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THE EGYPTIAN WHEAT, 

Bearing seven ears on one stalk, as described Gen. xli. 5. 



DICTIONARY 



OF IMPORTANT 



NAMES, OBJECTS, AND TERMS, 



FOUND IN THE 



HOLY SCRIPTURES. 



INTENDED PRINCIPALLY FOR YOUTH. 



BY HOWARD MALCOM, A. M. 




iJoston : 

PUBLISHED BY LINCOLN & EDMANDS. 

1830. 



i*30 



DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, to wit: 

District ClerWs Office, 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twentieth day of No- 
vember, A. D. 1829, in the fifty-fourth year of the Independence of the 
United States of America, LINCOLN k EDMANDS, of the said dis- 
trict, have deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof 
they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit : 

" A Dictionary of important Names, Objects, and Terms, found in 
the Holy Scriptures. Intended principally for Youth. By Howard 
Malcom, A. M." 

In Conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, en- 
titled, "An Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the 
copies, of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of 
such copies during the times therein mentioned ; " and also to an Act, 
entitled, " An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled, An Act for the 
encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, 
and Books to the Authors and* Proprietors of such copies during the 
times therein mentioned: and extending the benefits thereof to the 
arts ot Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical and other Prints." 

JNO. W. DAVIS, Clerk of the District of Massachusetts. 



64 



The following errors of the press are discovered : 
Under the word Cyprus, Cicilia for Cilicia. 

„ „ „ Darius, Cyaxerxes for Cyaxares. 
„ „ „ Dead Sea, Greece for Canaan. 



PREFACE. 



Productions that are the result of labour, more than 
of genius, lie under two great disadvantages : — the pleas- 
ure of composing is incomparably less, and the composi- 
tion itself is held in far less estimation. The author's 
only motive in undertaking the drudgery of preparing 
this volume was, that such a work seemed to him not 
only eminently needed for youth, but almost indispensa- 
ble ; while nothing of the kind existed within his knowl- 
edge. It was chiefly prepared at small intervals of leisure 
while travelling as General Agent of the American Sun- 
day School Union, and has now been retained nearly three 
years, in the hope that some more perfect work of the 
kind would appear. During this time it has been kept 
at hand for the purpose of inserting whatever seemed ap- 
propriate in the current religious periodicals, missionary 
reports, &c. The chief sources of aid, however, have 
been the works of Calmet, Whitby, Wells, Carpenter, 
Brown,* Wood, Paxton, and Harmer. Extracts have in 
some instances been taken, as well as facts, or thoughts ; 
but references seemed unnecessary. 

In most Dictionaries of the Bible, a large proportion of 
the matter consists of Scripture narrative, digested under 



* Gurney's Dictionary, lately issued in London, under the most impos- 
ing title, was also procured ; but it proves to be Brown's Dictionary of 
the Bible, reprinted verbatim, except in some very few articles ! 



[ v PREFACE. 

heads, or verbal definitions. It is believed that the read- 
ing of the Bible itself, is now so general among the 
classes of persons for whom this book is intended, as to 
make that plan undesirable in this instance. The object 
here is, in reference to Scripture names, to throw light 
on the sacred page, rather than to borrow it from thence. 
While therefore a great number of names of persons and 
places of which nothing is known except from Scripture, 
is omitted, more Scripture illustration, adapted to youth, 
will, it is hoped, be found, here than in any one of the larger 
works above named. In regard to doctrinal terms, &c. 
the usual course was necessarily pursued. As some of 
the articles may seem hardly comprehensible to children, 
it is proper to remark that the work was intentionally grad- 
uated to the common level of Sabbath School teachers; 
who it is hoped will find it a convenient and useful man- 
ual. Only by bringing the book to this standard, could it 
be made itself a teacher, which was the great object. It 
was hoped by this plan to make it useful to parents, 
also, in answering the numerous questions of intelligent 
children who read the Bible. 

It is now issued to serve a necessity, and if the " Father 
of lights" do but make it useful in the dissemination of 
heavenly truth, the desires of the Author will be fully 
realized. 

Hayward Place, Boston, 
Jan. 1, 1830. 



A. 



AB, the eleventh month of 
the Jewish civil year, and 
the fifth of their sacred. It 
answereth to the moon that 
begins in July, and consists 
of thirty days. 

ABADDON, signifies de- 
struction; andJlpoltyonthQ 
destroyer, is the name of the 
devil, who goes about seek- 
ing whom he may devour. 
Others consider it to mean 
the Pope of Rome. 

ABANA and Pharpar, 
two rivers of Syria, which 
Naaman the leper thought 
more fit to cure him than all 
the rivers of Israel. Abana 
is probably the same with the 
Barraddy, which springing 
from mount Lebanon, glides 
pleasantly towards the south. 
Perhaps the Pharpar is the 
same with Orontes, the most 
noted river of Syria, which, 
rising a little to the north- 
east of Damascus, passes 
Antioch, and running about 
200 miles to the north-west, 
loses itself in the Mediterra- 
nean Sea. 2 Kings v. 12. 

ABIA, second son to Sam- 
uel, and brother to Joel. 
B 



j Samuel having trusted them 
with the administration of 
public justice, and admitted 
them to a share of the gov- 
ernment, they acquitted 
themselves so illy, that they 
obliged the people to re- 
quire a king of him. When 
the priests were divided in- 
to twenty-four courses, (I 
Chron. xxiv.) one was called 
from him, or one of his de- 
scendants. Luke i. v. 

ABIB,or«Msan,thename 
of the first sacred, and sev- 
enth civil month of the Jew- 
ish year. It contained thirty 
days ; and answered to our 
moon of March. This word 
signifies ripe fruit ; and was 
given to this month, because 
in the middle thereof, the 
Jews began their harvest. 
The year, among the Jews, 
commenced in September ; 
and therefore their jubilees, 
and their other civil matters, 
were regulated in that way, 
see Levit. xxv. 8, 9, 10 ; but 
their sacred year commenced 
in Abib. This change took 
place at the redemption of 
Israel from Egypt, Exod. xii. 



ABY 



6 



ACR 



2. "This shall be to you 
the beginning of months." 

ABILENE, the Father's 
Mansion, a small canton in 
Syria, between Lebanon and 
Antilibanus. It took its name 
from Abila, which probably 
was the same with Abel- 
maim. Lysanius was gov- 
ernor here in the fifteenth 
year of Tiberias. Luke 
i ii. 1. 

ABOMINATION, a thing 
hateful. Sin is called an 
abomination because detesta- 
ble to God and good beings. 
False doctrines are so called. 
Rev. xvii. 4. Idols and their 
worship, and proud persons 
are often called abominations. 
Deut. vii. 26. Prov. xvi. 5. 
The sacrifices of the wicked, 
that is, hypocritical services, 
are an abomination. Prov. 
xv, 8. In Matt. xxiv. 15, 
the allusion is to Roman ar- 
mies, which as heathen were 
h ate f u 1 to th e Jews. 

ABRAHAM, a wander- 
ing shepherd of vast wealth 
and preeminent piety. Be- 
ing the progenitor of all the 
Jews he was called the Fa- 
ther of the faithful. His 
history is one of deep inter- 
est, and is given in Genesis 
at great length. 

ABYSS, a word used in 
Scripture sometimes to mean 
hell, and sometimes the 
depths of ocean, and the wa- 
ters which flow under the 
earth. 



ACELDAMA, a field lay- 
ing a little south of Jerusa- 
lem, which was used by pot- 
ters, to dig clay from thence. 
The money which Judas 
threw back to the Jewish ru- 
lers, being the price of blood, 
as they called it, they would 
not put into the Lord's treas- 
ury, but with it purchased 
this field, wherefore it was 
called Aceldama, or the 
field of blood. It was then 
appropriated as a place to 
bury strangers, from which 
the burial ground for this 
purpose is, in some cities, 
called Potter's-field. Matt, 
xxvii. 8. 

AC H A I A , a part of Greece, 
the capital of which was 
Corinth. It is now called 
Livadia. 

ACHOR, this word signi- 
fies trouble, and was the 
name of a valley near Jericho. 

ACRE. The English acre 
is 4840 square yards, the 
Roman. 3200, and the Egyp- 
tian 3698; but the Hebrew 
acre, appears to mean what 
one yoke of oxen ploughed 
in a day. Ten acres of vine- 
yard yielding one bath, and 
the seed of an homer pro- 
ducing an ephah, Isa. v. 10. 
means that the land should 
be afflicted with dreadful 
sterility, for such a crop is 
scarcely a tenth part of the 
seed sown. 

ADAMANT, a beautiful 
stone of the Viardest kind* 



ADO 



AGR 



generally called diamond. 
Diamonds are chiefly ob- 
tained in India, from the 
mines in Golconda, Visapoor, 
and Borneo. Some are now 
obtained from Brazil. Its 
great hardness makes it re- 
sist the most intense fire, cut 
glass, &c. Sinners' hearts 
are therefore compared to 
adamant. Zech. vii. 12. 

ADDER, a venomous rep- 
tile, brought forth alive, 
without eggs. It is often 
called a viper. 

ADJURE. "It was a cus- 
tom among the Jews to ad- 
jure, which was by a form 
of execration laid on the per- 
son if he did not answer tru- 
ly." (Hammond.) It was 
the same as administering an 
oath is now, so that though 
Christ held his peace when 
merely interrogated ; he ac- 
knowledged when adjured, 
or put on oath, that he was 
the Son of God. 

ADONAI is one of the 
names of God, and being in 
the plural intimates a Trini- 
ty. The Jews, who, either 
out of respect or superstition 
do not pronounce the name 
of Jehovah, read Adonai in 
the room of it, as often as 
they meet with Jehovah in 
the Hebrew text. The an- 
cient Jews, however, were 
not so scrupulous ; there 
is no law which forbids them 
to pronounce this name 



taking one into the family 
for a son. Pharaoh's daugh- 
ter adopted the young child 
Moses. Mordecai also re- 
ceived Esther. True believ- 
ers in Christ, who rely upon 
the efficacious atonement of 
his precious blood, and the 
sure merit of his perfect 
righteousness, for the pardon 
of their sins and reconcilia- 
tion to God, being regener- 
ated by the Spirit, and freely 
justified by grace, through 
the redemption of Jesus 
Christ, are said to be put in- 
to this state of adoption. 

ADRIA, a sea now called 
the Gulf of Venice, on the 
coast of Italy. Acts xxvii. 
27. Paul in going to Rome, 
suffered an extreme tempest 
in this sea. 

ADULTERY, violating 
the bed of a married person ; 
in a spiritual sense it means 
idolatry, or the act of paying 
that homage or worship to 
the creature, which is due 
only to the Creator. Jer. iii. 
9. Ezek. xxiii. 37. 

AGATE, a precious stone 
of variegated colours, but 
not very valuable. 

AGRIPPA, the son of 
Herod, governor for the Ro- 
mans of several provinces* 
and among them part of Gal- 
ilee, west of the sea of Ti- 
berias. He came with his 
sister to visit Festus on his 
inauguration, and hearing of 



ADOPTION, the act of! Paul, was anxious to see him 



AIR 



8 



ALE 



Paul preached before the 
royal personages, and Agrip- 
pa was almost persuaded to 
to be a Christian. When the 
Jews revolted, he took part 
with the Romans against 
them, and after the destruc- 
tion of Jerusalem, he went 
to Rome, where he died in 
the year 90, aged 70. (See 
Herod.) 

AIR, a fluid which sur- 
rounds the earth to the ex- 
tent of about fifty miles. Air 
has a considerable weight. 
About 2160 pound-weight of 
it presses on every square 
foot ; and allowing the sur- 
face of an human body to be 
15 square feet, the pressure 
of air on it must amount to 
32,400 pounds weight. But 
this pressure is not percepti- 
bly felt, because our bodies 
contain such a portion as 
serves to buoy them up. 
Air is necessary not only to 
the existence of man, but of 
all animals and plants. The 
winds keep it pure. Crea- 
tures inhabiting the water 
need air as much as land an- 
imals. Some of these come 
often to the surface to 
breathe, and those which 
have gills, manufacture air 
for themselves out of water. 
If there were no air we 
could neither see, hear, nor 
speak ; there could be neith- 
er clouds nor rain. Indeed, 
the whole world would be 
destroyed if the air were to 



be destroyed, or even be- 
come stagnant. 

ALABASTER, a name 
now applied to a fine white 
species of marble. The 
word is derived from a priv- 
ative, hccfiyi, a handle, and 
was used by the ancients to 
mean an urn or vessel with- 
out handles, especially those 
made full at the bottom, and 
narrow at the top, so as to 
be easily stopped, and thus 
especially proper for oint- 
ments and perfumes, which 
would lose their fragrance if 
exposed. Alabasters were 
of glass, or silver, or gold. 
It was customary at feasts 
among the great to anoint 
the hair of the guests with 
costly perfume. Ps. xxiii. 5. 
and xlv. 7. 1 Chron. xii. 40. 

ALEXANDRIA, a cele- 
brated city in Lower Egypt. 
It was situated between the 
lake Mareotis and the west- 
ern branch of the Nile, at a 
small distance from the Med- 
iterranean sea. It was for 
ages the mart of commerce 
to most of the known world, 
and one of the most flourish- 
ing cities, second to none but 
Rome. It was famed for a 
library of 700,000 volumes, 
which was madly burnt by 
the Arabs or Saracens, A. D. 
642. It is now dwindled to 
a village, with nothing re- 
markable but the ruins of an- 
cient grandeur. Here Apol- 
los was born, Acts xviii. 24. 



ALO 



9 



AME 



Fifty thousand Jews were 
murdered here, under the 
Emperor Nero. When the 
Arabs took it as above, they 
found 40,000 Jews who paid 
tribute. In a ship belonging 
to Alexandria, Paul sailed 
for Rome, Acts xxvii. 6. 
Christianity was early plant- 
ed in this place. Mark the 
Evangelist is said to have 
first preached it here. 

ALMS. Bounty to the 
poor. Matt. vi. 1. In the 
Hebrew it is called righte- 
ousness — in the Greek it sig- 
nifies mercy. 

ALMUG TREE. Some 
suppose it to be coral which 
grows in the shape of a tree. 
More probably the ebony. 
It is thought to be the same 
with Shittah-tree. 1 Kings 
x. 11. 

ALOES. Tournefort reck- 
ons up fourteen kinds of the 
aloe-tree. The American 
aloe is famous for its fine 
flowers, which are of the 
lily kind ; the Asian for the 
useful drug prepared from 
it. The drug called aloe is 
formed of the juice of the 
leaves, fresh plucked and 
squeezed, set to harden in 
the sun. This drug is fam- 
ed for its purgative virtue. 
Aloes were anciently used 
for the embalming of dead 
bodies, and as a perfume. 
John xix. 39. Prov. vii. 17. 

ALPHA, the first letter of 
the Greek alphabet. It is 



used in connexion with Ome- 
ga which is the last letter to 
express the eternity of Jesus 
Christ. 

ALTAR, among the Jews, 
the place where sacrifices 
were laid and offered. The 
Roman Catholics still apply 
the name to the table where 
the communion is adminis- 
tered ; but Christ is the only 
Christian altar to which we 
bring all our sacrifices and 
services. 

AMBASSADOR, a legate 
or apostle. A person sent on 
behalf of another, and with 
powers to act on his behalf 
according to general instruc- 
tions given. 

AMBER, a yellow, trans- 
parent substance, of a gum- 
my consistence, a resinous 
taste, and a smell like oil 
of turpentine. It is dug 
up in many places in Ger- 
many, Poland, &c. ; but 
that which is found in Prus- 
sia is reckoned the best. It 
is originally in a liquid state; 
for leaves, insects, &c. are 
sometimes found in the 
lumps. Ezek. i. 4. viii. 2. 

AMEN, true, verily, be 
it so. Christ is called The 
Amejv, because he is the 
very God of truth. The 
promises are said to be " Yea 
and Amen," in Christ, be- 
cause that by him they will 
infallibly be all accomplished. 

AMETHYST, a precious 
stone, generally of a purple 



ANG 



10 



ANT 



or violet colour. They are ! 
found in Germany, Spain, 
and other countries, but the 
most valuable are obtained 
in Asia. 

ANATHEMA, a solemn 
curse. 

ANGEL, a messenger. It 
is applied to those heavenly 
agents, which are the high- 
est created intellectual be- 
ings, whom God makes use 
of as his ministers to execute 
the orders of providence. 
Rev. xxii. 8 ; to Christ, w r ho 
is the Mediator and Head of 
the church. Zech. i. 12. 
Rev. x. 1 ; to ministers of 
the Gospel, who are the am- 
bassadors for Christ. Rev. ii. 
1. and iii. 1,7; to those 
whom God employs to exe- 
cute his judgments. Rev. xv. 
8,andxvi. 1 ; to devils. Matt. 
xxv. 41. 1 Cor. 6. iii. The 
most common application of 
the term, is to the happy 
spirits who have never fallen. 
When God founded the earth 
with such skill and goodness, 
they sang together and shout- 
ed for joy. Job xxxviii. 6, 7. 
They were created with em- 
inent wisdom, holiness, and 
purity, and placed in a most 
happy and honourable estate ; 
but capable of change. Their 
knowledge is great, but not 
infinite ; they desire to look 
into the mystery of our sal- 
vation, and learn from the 
church the manifold wis- 
dom of God. Nor can they 



search the hearts of men, 
nor know future things, but 
as particularly instructed of 
God. 1 Pet. i. 12. Eph. iii. 
10. Jer. xvii. 10. Matt. xxiv. 
36. Their power is very 
extensive ; but reaches to 
nothing strictly miraculous. 
Their number is very great, 
amounting to many millions. 
Psl. lxviii. 17. Matt. xxvi. 
53. Rev. v. 11. Dan.vii.10; 
and their names, of archan- 
gels, thrones, dominions, 
principalities, and powers, 
suggest an order among them, 
though of what kind we 
know not. Col. i. 16. 

ANISE, a plant very com- 
mon in Judea. The seed is 
very fragrant, and makes an 
excellent cordial. 

ANTICHRIST, one that 
opposes or puts himself in- 
stead of Christ. Frequent- 
ly the word means some 
system of doctrines, which 
is contrary to the Christian 
system. Mahommedanism 
seems to be sometimes in- 
tended by the word ; but its 
most frequent and evident 
signification is Popery. 
Rev. ix. 1, xi. 20, &c. 

ANTIOCH, once one of 
the most flourishing cities on 
the earth. It was the capi- 
tal of Syria, lying on both 
banks of the Orontes, twelve 
miles from the Mediterrane- 
an sea. Here Paul and Bar- 
nabas preached, and here the 
disciples of Christ were first 



ANO 



11 



APP 



called Christ-ians. The 
church here was famcms for 
many hundred years. In 
the year A. D. 538, sixty 
thousand of its inhabitants 
perished in an earthquake. 
In 1188 it was utterly demol- 
ished by the Saracens, and is 
now little else than a heap of 
ruins. 

ANTIPATRIS, a city of 
Canaan, situated in a pleasant 
valley, near the mountains, 
in the way from Jerusalem 
to Cesarea, about 17 or 18 
miles distant from Joppa, 
and 42 from Jerusalem. Acts 
xxiii. 32. 

ANOINT, to pour oil up- 
on a person, as was done 
among the Jews, when they 
set apart a person to a holy 
office, as of prophet, priest, 
or king ; which being by di- 
vine appointment, was to de- 
note the person's being; en- 
dued with the gifts of the 
Spirit. But Jesus Christ 
was the only one ever par- 
ticularly designated by God, 
to fill all the three distinct 
offices of prophet, priest, and 
king; who was, in a pecu- 
liar maimer, filled with the 
Holy Ghost, of which the oil 
was the emblem, and there- 
by consecrated and author- 
ized to be the Messiah. 
Christ is emphatically styled 
the anointed, in various parts 
of Scripture. 

AP1I FORUM, a place in 
£ke south-west of Italy, about 



50 miles from Rome, where 
Paul was met on his journey 
by his Christian friends. 

APOCRYPHA, a number 
of books often placed be- 
tween the Old and New Tes- 
taments, or otherwise bound 
up therewith. They were 
read in private by the an- 
cient Christians, as useful, but 
not admitted into the canon of 
Scripture. None of them 
were ever received by the 
Jews, to whom the oracles of 
God were then committed. 
None of them are found in 
Mileto's catalogue of the ca- 
nonical books in the second 
century ■; nor does Origen in 
the third,orEpiphaniusinthe 
fourth, acknowledge their 
authenticity. Few of them 
were allowed to be canonical, 
till in the ninth and tenth cen- 
turies, when the ignorance 
of the people and the vil- 
lany of the clergy, were ca- 
pable to allow any thing to 
pass for divine. For an ac- 
count of the several books 
see Brown's Dictionary of 
the Bible. 

APOSTLE, a messenger; 
the title given to the twelve 
disciples of our blessed Sav- 
iour, who were sent forth to 
preach the gospel. It is ap- 
plied to Christ Jesus, who 
was sent from heaven to as- 
sume our nature, and to ef- 
fect the great work of man's 
redemption, by his merits 
and death j Heb. iii. 1. 



ARA 



12 



ARA 



APPLE-TREE. The kinds 

are numerous, and its fruit 
roundish, refreshing, cool 



mg, 



and medicinal. It if 



therefore probable the tap- 
puahh properly means the 
citron-tree. The citron is a 
large spreading tree, ever 
green, fragrant, and afford- 
ing a delightful shade. Songs 
viii. 5. Prov. xxv, 11. 

ARABIA, a large coun- 
try of Asia, lying partly on 
the east, but chiefly south- 
ward of Canaan. It is situ- 
ated between 13 and 35 and 
a half degrees of north lati- 
tude, and between 34 and 60 
degrees of east longitude 
from London. Its greatest 
length from east to west, is 
about 1620 miles; and its 
greatestbreadth from north to 
south, about 1350. And in the 
north parts, eastward of Ca- 
naan, it is far less than the 
half of any of these numbers. 
It has the Indian ocean on 
the south, the Red Sea and 
Isthmus of Suez on the west, 
Canaan and Syria on the 
north-west and north, the 
mountains of Chaldea and 
the Persian gulf on the east. 
It is ordinarily divided into 
three parts. (1.) Arabia- 
Petr&a, or the rocky, on the 
north-west, and which is now 
called Hejiaz. In the south- 
west part of it now stand 
the famed cities of Mecca 
and Medina, so much visited 
t>y Mahommetan pilgrims. 



This division contained the 
land of Edom, the wilder- 
ness of Paran, the land of 
Cushan, &c. ; and seems to 
have been first called Ara- 
bia, from its westerly situa- 
tion, or the mixed tribes 
which inhabited it. (2.) 
Arabia- Deserta, which lay 
eastward of Canaan, and 
comprehended the land of 
Uz, of Ammon, Moab, Mid- 
ian, with the country of the 
Itureans, Hagarenes, &c. 
(3.) Arabia-Felix, or hap- 
py, on the south of the two 
former. The two last seem 
to have been called Kedein, 
or the east, by the Hebrews. 
Scarce any part of Arabia is 
well watered ; but Arabia- 
Felix is famed for vast num- 
bers of fine spices and fruits. 
The Arabians are the de- 
scendants of Ishmael. 

ARARAT, a mountain in 
the country of the same 
name, on which rested No- 
ah's ark. Part of the prov- 
ince which was formerly so 
called, lies in Turcomania, 
and the rest is in Persia. It 
has Georgia on the north, 
Media on the east, Assyria 
on the south, and Lesser 
Asia on the west. Here the 
rivers Euphrates, Tigris, Ar- 
axes, and Phasis, have their 
source. Here stand the 
famed mountains, Taurus 
and Antitaurus, Niphates,, 
Gordian, &c. The moun- 
tain of Ararat, upon which 




THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. P. 13. 




THE ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERING. P. 9. 



ARI 



13 



ASH 



Noah's ark rested, was prob 
ably the Ar-dagh or finger- 
mountain, near the north 
east of Armenia. It stands 
in a large plain, thirty-six 
miles east from Erivan, shap- 
ed like a sugar-loaf, and is 
visible nearly two hundred 
miles distant. Its top is inac- 
cessible on account of the 
height of the snow which 
perpetually covers it. The 
middle part is haunted by a 
multitude of tigers; some 
poor flocks, and two pitiful 
monasteries are seen at the 
foot. • 

ARCHANGEL; the chief 
angel. The name seems 
never to be applied to any 
created being, and probably 
means Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 
iv. 16. 

AREOPAGUS ; the high 
court of Athens, called 
Marshill, because it was 
held on that eminence. It 
first consisted of nine judges, 
afterward of thirty, and final- 
ly of five hundred. There 
are still to be seen vestiges 
of their seats, cut in a rock 
after a semicircular form. 
Paul, when cited before 
them on a charge of setting 
forth strange gods, preach- 
ed so ably that he was dis- 
missed, and Dionysius, one 
of the judges, was converted. 
Perhaps others also. Acts 
xvii. 

ARIMATHEA, a city of 
Judea which appears to have 



been in the neighbourhood 
of Bethel. 

ARK, the vessel in which 
Noah and his family were 
preserved during the flood. 
The name is also applied, 
Ark of the covenant, the 
chest in which the table of 
the law, Aaron's rod, and the 
pot of manna were preserv- 
ed. Heb. ii. 4. 

ARMAGEDDON. This 
word, (Rev. xvi. 10,) is of 
doubtful import. It is thought 
by Grotius to mean the 
Mount of meeting, and sig- 
nifies the place where Con- 
stantine with a Christian ar- 
my of 98,000 men conquered 
Maxentius with an army of 
188,000 heathen, which vic- 
tory was so signal and entire 
that the church was wholly 
freed from Maxentius' tyr- 
anny. 

ARMOUR. 1. A coat of 
mail proof against a sword or 
arrow ; disused since the in- 
vention of gunpowder. Rom. 
xiii. 12. 2. Weapons of war. 
Those formerly used were 
sword, spear, bow and arrow, 
sling, javelin, &,c. 

ASHTAROTH, Ashto- 
reth, or Astarte, a famed 
goddess of the Zidonians. 
The moon, or queen of heav- 
en, was worshipped under 
this name. Cicero calls her 
the fourth Venus of Syria. 
Perhaps she is the iEstar or 
Eostre of the Saxons, from 
whom our term Easter is de- 



ASI 



14 



ATO 



rived. She is variously rep- 
resented; sometimes in a 
long;, sometimes in a short 
habit;; sometimes as holding 
a long stick with a cross at 
the top; sometimes she is 
crowned with rays ; at other 
times with a bull's head, 
whose horns, according to 
Sanchoniatho, were emblems 
of the new moon. 

ASHTAROTH- JTamaim, 
a city belonging to the half- 
tribe of Manasseh, eastward 
of Jordan. It was about six 
miles from Edrer. Here 
Chedorlaomer smote the gi- 
gantic Rephaims: here was 
the residence of Og, king of 
Bashan. Gen. xiv. 5. Deut. 
i.4. 

ASIA, as the term is used 
in Scripture, means the coun- 
try now called Lpvant, lying 
between the Hellespont and 
Euxine sea, on the north, and 
the Mediterranean on the 
south. Lesser Asia, Lydia 
perhaps excepted, was orig- 
inally peopled by the off- 
spring of Japheth ; and an- 
ciently parcelled out into a 
great many small sovereign- 
ties. The kingdoms of Troas, 
Lydia, Pontus, Cappadocia, 
and the Grecian states, were 
the most noted. The Per- 
sians extended their power 
over the greater part of it, 
which made it a scene of dis- 
putes between them and the 
Greeks. About 330 years 
before our Saviour's birth, 



the Greeks under Alexander 
made themselves masters of 
the whole of it. It next fell 
under the Romans, and part- 
ly continued so, till the Sara- 
cens and Turks wrested it 
from the Emperors of the 
east. For 300 years past it 
hath been wholly subject to 
the Ottoman Turks, by 
whose ravage and tyranny 
this once so glorious country 
is reduced to a comparative 
desert, noted for almost noth- 
ing but ancient ruins. This 
is the country called Isles of 
the Sea, in Old Testament 
prophecies, Isa. xlii. 4. Zech. 
ii. 11. Flourishing church- 
es were planted here by the 
apostles, some of which re- 
main till this day, but are in 
a deplorable condition. 

ATHENS, a very cele- 
brated city of Greece, built 
more than 1000 years before 
the birth of Christ. It was 
chiefly famous for learning. 
It produced Solon, Socrates, 
Aristides, Demosthenes, be- 
sides many renowned gener- 

ATONEMENT, that act 
of the blessed Redeemer, in 
which he satisfied divine jus- 
tice by the sacrifice of him- 
self. It is by faith that man, 
convinced of sin, looks to the 
merits and death of Jesus 
Christ, and through the op- 
eration of the Holy Spirit, 
obtains pardon, peace, and 
holiness. 



BAA 



15 



BAB 



B. 



BAAL, signifies lord or 
husband, and perhaps in the 
earliest ages was a name ap- 
plied to the true God. It 
was a very common name of 
the male idols among eas- 
tern nations, as Ashtaroth 
or Astarte, was a common 
one for their female deities. 
The Moabites, Phenicians, 
Assyrians, Chaldeans, and 
frequently the Hebrews, had 
their Baal, which, from his 
place of worship, or suppos- 
ed office, had often distin- 
guishing epithets annexed ; 
as Baal-berith, Baal-peor, 
Baal-zebub, &c. Often this 
name Baal was a part of the 
names of persons and cities, 
perhaps to signify that the 
most of them were dedicated 
to his service. This the pi- 
ous Hebrews sometimes 
turned into Bosheth, which 
signifies shame ; thus Jerub- 
baal is turned into Jerubosh- 
eth; Eshbaal into Ishbosh- 
eth ; Meribaal into Mephi- 
bosheth, Judo;, vi. 32. 2 Sam. 
xi. 21. 1 Chron. viii. 32, 34. 
2 Sam. ii. 12. and ix. 6. Baal 
is oft named Baalim, in the 
plural, perhaps because there 
were many Baals ; at least, 
many images of him. Ev- 
ery sort of abominations was 
committed on the festivals of 
this idol, and of Ashtaroth, 



his mate. In his chamanim 
or temples, was k< j pt a per- 
petual fire; altars were 
erected to him in groves, 
high places and on the tops 
of houses. Jer. xxxii. 35. 2 
Kings xvii. 16. and xxiii. 
4_12. Hos. iv. 14. The ori- 
gin of this idolatry is very an- 
cient. The Moabites begun 
their worship of Baal before 
the days of Moses. The He- 
brews began theirs in his 
time. Numb. xxii. 41. Psl. 
cvi. 28. They relapsed into 
that idolatry after the death 
of Joshua, and under the 
judges Ehud, Gideon, and 
Jepthah. Judg. ii. 13. iii. 7. 
vi. 25. x. 6. Samuel seems to 
have quite abolished the wor- 
ship of this idol from Israel. 
1 Sam. vii. 4. But Ahab and 
Jezebel above 200 years af- 
terwards revived it in all its 
abominations: 450 priests 
were appointed to attend his 
service, and nearly as many 
for Astaroth. It was often 
revived in succeeding gen- 
erations till after the estab- 
lishment of synagogues, since 
which the Jews have not 
been addicted to idolatry. 

BABEL. In the year of 
the world 1758, that is, 102 
years after the flood, the race 
I of mankind being all of one 
1 language and religion, they, 



BAL 



16 



BEH 



perhaps at Nimrod's motion 
agreed to erect a tower of 
prodigious extent and h sight. 
Their design was not to secure 
themselves against a second 
deluge, or they had built 
their tower on a high moun- 
tain ; but to get themselves 
a famous character, and to 
prevent their dispersion by 
the erection of a monument 
which should be visible from 
a great distance. No quarries 
being found in that rich soil, 
they made bricks for stone, 
and used slime for mortar. 
Their haughty and rebellious 
attempt displeased the Lord ; 
wherefore he by a miracle, 
after they had worked, it is 
said, twenty- two years, con- 
founded their language, that 
but few of them could un- 
derstand one another. This 
effectually stopped the build- 
ing, procured it the name of 
Babel, or Confusion, and 
obliged the offspring of Noah 
to disperse themselves, and 
replenish the world. 

BALM, a precious, sweet 
smelling, and medicinal res- 
in or gum, extracted from the 
balm-tree, which is cultivat- 
ed in the manner of the vine, 
and grows in various places 
of Arabia the rocky. That 
of Canaan near Engedi, and 
in Gilead, was reckoned the 
best. The Arabs sold of it 
to the Egyptians, and the 
Jews to the Tyrians. Gen. 
xxxvii. 25. Ezek. xxvii. 17. 



It is very light when fresh, 
and swims above the water 
wherein it is dissolved. Its 
colour at first is whitish, and 
afterwards green ; but when 
old, it becomes yellowish, 
and of a honey- colour. Its 
taste is very biiter. 

BAPTIZE, to administer 
the ordinance of baptism, 
whereby a person is admit- 
ted into church fellowship, 
and initiated into the Chris- 
tian religion. The washing 
with water represents the 
cleansing of the soul from 
sin by the blood of Christ, 
and is the outward sign of an 
inward cleansing. 

BASHAN, or Batanea, 
one of the most fruitful 
countries in the world, lying 
eastward of Jordan and the 
sea of Tiberias, northward of 
the river Jabbok, westward 
of the mountains of Gilead, 
and south of Hermon and 
the kingdom of Geshuri. 
Besides villages, it contained 
sixty fenced cities. It was 
peculiarly famous for its 
rich pasture, excellent flocks 
and herds, and stately oaks. 

BATH, a Hebrew meas- 
ure containing nearly ten 
gallons. It is one tenth part 
of a homer. 

BDELLIUM, a fragrant 
gum produced in the east. 

BEHEMOTH. Sacred crit- 
ics are not agreed whether 
this is the elephant or hip- 
popotamus; the probability 



BER 



17 



BIB 



seems to lean toward the 
former. Elephants are so 
often shown through the 
country that it is needless to 
describe them here. 

BELIEVE, to have a firm 
trust and confidence in the 
truth of a report. To be- 
lieve the Gospel, is to have 
a full persuasion of the di- 
vine authority of its doctrines, 
and a determined resolution, 
by the grace of God, to obey 
its precepts. To assent bare- 
ly to Gospel truths, Acts viii. 
13. To receive, depend, and 
rely upon Christ for life and 
salvation. John i. 12. Rom. 
ix. 33. 

BELZEBUB, the prince 
of flies, or god of Ekron, 
worshipped as having power 
over all hurtful insects. Matt. 
xii. 24. 

BERNICE, the daughter 
of Agrippa the Great. She 
was first betrothed to Mark, 
son of Alexander, governor 
of the Jews at Alexandria. 
She however married her 
own uncle, Herod, king of 
Chalcis. After his death, 
she married Polemon, king 
of Pontus, but abandoned 
him, and returning to Agrip- 
pa, her brother, lived with 
him in incest. They sat 
with pomp to hear Paul 
preach. Acts xxv. 

BERYL, a precious stone 
the colour of the sea, vary- 
ing in size from that of a pea 
to that of a chestnut. Found 



chiefly in the East Indies, 
and South America. 

BETHESDA, a pool on 
the east of Jerusalem. The 
name signifies either a 
draught-house, or a house of 
mercy ; so called because a 
public bath was here erect- 
ed, or because God gracious- 
ly bestowed a healing virtue 
on the waters of it. As it 
lay but a little to the north- 
east of the temple, the sacri- 
fices might be washed in it ; 
but it did not thence derive 
its healing virtue. John v. 1. 

BETHLEHEM, a city of 
Judah, about six miles south 
of Jerusalem, and situated in 
a declivity of a hill. It is also 
called Ephratah andEphrath, 
its inhabitants Ephrathites, 
from its founder. It was con- 
siderable only for giving|birth 
to Ibzan, Elimelech, Boaz, 
David, and chiefly to Jesus, 
the promised Messiah. Gen. 
xxxv. 16, 19. and xlviii. 7. 
Ruth i. 2. Psl. cxxxii. 6. 
Mic. v. 2. 

BETH-PHAGE, a small 
village belonging to the 
priests. It was hard by 
Bethany, and near two miles 
east of Jerusalem. Here our 
Saviour obtained the ass for 
his lowly triumph. Matt. 
xxi. 1. 

BETHSAIDA, a city of 
Galilee. Its name imports 
that it was a place of fishing 
or hunting. 

BIBLE. This word not 



BIR 



18 



BIT 



occurring in Scripture docs 
not claim a place here. See 
an excellent article on it 
in Buck's Theological Dic- 
tionary. 

BIRDS, are like all other 
creatures, wonderfully a- 
dapted to their mode of life. 
Such as chiefly fly have very 
large wings. Such as wade 
in the mud have long legs 
bare of feathers. Such as 
swim have webbed feet. 
Such as bore for insects have 
strong round bills. Such as 
live on prey have crooked 
bills to tear flesh with. Such 
as rise high in the air have 
eyes capable of seeing the 
smallest worm from a great 
height. Such as grope for 
their food in the mud, where 
it cannot be seen, have flat 
bills with the nerves running 
down to the very end, so that 
they have as delicate a sense 
of feeling there, as we have 
in our finders. Many oth- 
er • proofs of the wisdom and 
goodness of God are found in 
the study of ornithology, as 
this subject is called ; but 
they cannot be mentioned 
here for want of room. Birds 
were created on the fifth 
day. They are classed by 
naturalists by referring to 
their bills, feet, &c. Under 
the Jewish dispensation they 
were divided into clean and 
unclean. The following is a 
list of the unclean — the rest 
were allowed to be eaten. 



The modern names are given 
on the authority of the Edit- 
or of Calmet's Dictionary. 

Birds of the Air. 
Eagle, Eagle. 

Ossifrage, Vulture. 

Ospray, Black Eagle. 

Vulture, Hawk. 

Kite, Kite. 

Raven, Raven. 

Birds of the Land. 
Owl, Ostrich. 

Night Hawk, Night Owl. 
Cuckoo, Saf-saf. 

Hawk, Ancient Ibis. 

Birds of the Water. 
Little Owl, Sea Gull. 
Cormorant, Cormorant. 

Great Owl, Ibis Ardea. 

Swan, Wild Goose. 

Pelican, Pelican. 

Gier Eagle, Alcyone. 
Stork, ' Stork. 

Heron, Longneck. 

Lapwing, Hoopoe. 

Unique. 
Bat, Bat. 

BISHOP, a shepherd, or 
overseer. In the New Tes- 
tament the word means 
pastor of a church, and is 
the same as elders or pres- 
byter. Acts xx. 17. Ti- 
tus i. 5—7. 1 Pet. v. 1, 
2. None of the Protes- 
tant churches but that of 
England, have retained the 
Romish plan of having bish- 
ops with power over their 
fellow ministers. 

BITHYNIA, a province 
on the south of the Euxine 
sea, west of Pontus and Ga- 



BIT 



19 



BLE 



latia, north of Asia Proper, 
and east of the Propontis. 
It was famed in the time of 
the Argonautic expedition, 
which might be during the 
reign of Rehoboam, if not 
earlier. It is now called 
Becksangil. The towns of 
note in it were Prusa, Nice, 
Nicomedia, Chalcedon, Lib- 
yssa, Therma. When Paul 
first travelled for Europe, 
the Holy Ghost allowed him 
not to preach here. Acts xvi. 
7. But afterward a church 
was here planted, and a 
number of Jews and others 
believed. 1 Pet. LI. His- 
torians trace a church here 
for 1000 years after Christ. 
Indeed there are still a few 
Christians in the place. 

BITTERN, a fowl of the 
heron kind. It is common 
in fen countries, skulks 
among the reeds and sedges, 
and ordinarily stands with 
its neck and beak straight 
upward. It suffers people 
to come very near it ; and if 
unable to escape, will strike 
at them, chiefly at their 
eyes. It flies mostly in the 
dusk of ihe evening, and 
makes a very odd noise among 
the reeds, and a different one 
when it mounts into the sky, 
into which it ascends by a 
straight spiral ascent till it be 
quite out of sight. Nineveh 
and Babylon became a pos- 
session for the bittern, when 
the spot was partly turned 



into a fen or pool of water, 
Isa. xiv. 23. and xxi. 1. Zeph. 
ii. 14. 

BLASPHEME, to re- 
proach and revile God, by 
denying or ridiculing his per- 
fections, word, or ordinances, 
and by ascribing to him any 
thing base or sinful. Tit. ii. 
5; Rev. xiii, 6. What the 
unpardonable blasphemy a- 
gainst the Holy Ghost is, 
has been much controvert- 
ed. The occasion of Christ's 
mentioning it, Matt. xii. 21 — 
31, hath tempted many to 
think it lay in ascribing his 
miracles to diabolical influ- 
ence ; but when we con- 
sider also. Heb. vi. 4, 5. and 
x. 26 — 30, it appears that an 
obstinate and malicious re- 
jection of Christ, and the 
whole plan of salvation 
through him, notwithstand- 
ing; strong convictions of 
the Holy Ghost, is indeed 
this dreadful crime, which, 
to deter men from presumpt- 
uous sins, God hath fixed as 
unpardonable. 

BLESS, to make happy, 
which, properly, is the act 
of God alone, the author of 
every blessing. God blesses, 
especially, by the rich pro- 
vision which he has made in 
his glorious plan of redemp- 
tion, in the supplies of his 
grace, and by the gifts of his 
Holy Spirit, whereby man is 
enabled to serve him ac- 
ceptably in this world, and 



BOO 



20 



BOO 



to receive a meetness for 
that eternal inheritance in 
heaven, where he will be 
perfectly happy in the enjoy- 
ment of God forever. This 
word is often used in an in- 
ferior sense, and man is said 
to bless God, when, with a 
grateful heart, he praises him 
for benefits received, and 
lives to his glory. He may 
be said to bless his fellow- 
creatures, when he wishes 
them every good, and uses 
his best endeavors to promote 
their happiness. 

BOANERGES, sons of 
earthquake or thunder. The 
sons of Zebedee are called 
so because vehement in feel- 
ing, and powerful in their 
preaching. Matt. hi. 17. 

BODY, the material part 
of man. It signifies the 
church of God, which is the 
mystical body of Christ. In 
the Lord's Supper, the bread 
is called the body of Christ, 
that is, the representation of 
his body, and is received as 
a memorial of his sufferings, 
and the pledge of all the ben- 
efits purchased by his death. 

BOOK. The different parts 
of Scripture are called books, 
because they are separate in 
their nature, though harmo- 
nious among themselves. 
They were at first written 
and circulated separately 
something as tracts are now. 
Formerly plates of lead and 
copper, the bark of trees, 



thin bricks, stone, and wood, 
were used to write on. He- 
siod's works were written on 
lead ; God's law on stone ; 
and the laws of Solon on 
planks. When these last 
were used they were gen- 
erally covered with a thin 
coat of wax, for ease both in 
writing and in blotting out, 
which explains the expres- 
sion of David when he prays 
that his sins may be blotted 
out as a cloud, i. e. the rec- 
ord of them. Palm leaves, 
being more convenient as to 
bulk and portableness were 
afterward invented, and are 
still used in India. Then 
the thin inner bark of trees, 
especially the elm ; hence 
the word liber, the inner 
bark of a tree. Afterwards 
the papyrus was used. The 
trunk of this plant is com- 
posed of thin layers like an 
onion. These were laid on 
one another with size or very 
fine paste, like shingles on a 
roof, and thus made paper, 
so called from papyrus. 
Parchment was soon after 
invented in Pergaraos. Books 
of these two last substances 
were rolled on sticks like 
cloth, and hence the word 
volume, from the latin word 
volo, to roll. Paper as now 
made of rags pounded to a 
pulp, and dried in thin sheets, 
was invented about nine hun- 
dred years ago, and printing 
was invented about four hun- 




A LEATHER BOTTLE, 

As used in eastern countries. 



P. 20. 



BOT 



21 



BUR 



dred years ago. See New 
Testament. 

BOOK OF LIFE, signifies 

God's recognition of his peo- 
ple, and secure remembrance 
of them, and is an allusion 
to tire registers kept in cities 
of the names of all its regu- 
lar citizens. Phil. iv. 3. Hon- 
ourable persons, not citizens, 
were sometimes entered 
here, which was giving the 
freedom of the city. Vaga- 
bonds and disorderly persons 
had their names erased. Rev. 
in. 5. 

BORDER OF THE GAR- 
MENT. See Phylacte- 
ries. 

BOOTH, a shelter gener- 
ally made of forked poles 
driven into the ground, cov- 
ered with green boughs. 
Lev. xxiii. 42. During the 
feast of tabernacles, the Jews 
used to resort to the country 
and set up booths. Neh. vii. 
14. 

BOTTLE. Anciently bot- 
tles were made of leather, 
as glass was unknown. The 
skin of a goat was pull- 
ed off whole, and the places 
where the legs and tail 
were tied up. As they 
grew tender by using, new 
wine which had not done 
fermenting could not be safe- 
ly put in them. Matt. ix. 
David in distress compares 
Tiimself to a bottle in the 
smoke, dried up and wither- 
ed. Psl. cxix. 83. 

C 



BREASTPLATE, a part 
of the high-priest's holy ap- 
parel. It was about ten 
inches square, and consisted 
of a folded piece of the same 
rich, and embroidered stuff 
whereof the robe of the eph- 
od was formed. It was set 
with twelve different pre- 
cious stones, fastened in 
ouches of gold, one for every 
Hebrew tribe. These were 
set in four rows ; in the up- 
permost were a sardius, to- 
paz, and carbuncle, for Reu- 
ben, Simeon, and Levi ; in 
the second, an emerald, sap- 
phire, and diamond, for Ju- 
dah, Dan, and Napthali ; in 
the third, a ligure, an agate, 
and amethyst, for Gad, Ash- 
er, and Issachar ; in the low- 
est, a beryl, onyx, and jas- 
per, for Zebulun, Joseph 
and Benjamin. This was 
fastened on the high -priest's 
breast. By the two upper 
corners, it was fastened to 
his shoulders; by the two 
below it was fastened to the 
girdle of the ephod ; by 
wearing it, he carried the 
twelve tribes as on his heart 
before God. 

BURY. The Hebrews 
were careful to bury even 
their enemies. 1 Kings xi. 
15. Ezek. xxxix. 14. the 
troublesome pollution of dead 
bodies required it. To be 
deprived of burial, or cast 
into an unclean place, they 
reckoned a terrible calamity. 



C2E8 



22 



CAL 



When one died, if his friends 
were able, he was embalm- 
ed, and after a proper time, 
carried out to his grave on a 
bier, if poor ; or on a stately 
bed, if rich, and laid as in a 
bed, in the grave. The dead 
bodies were arrayed in 
clothes ; but from the resur- 
rection of Lazarus, and other 



evidence, it appears they 
were not buried in coffins, as 
is the manner with us. To 
be buried with Christ in bap- 
tism, imports our mortifica- 
tion of sin, by virtue of fel- 
lowship with him in his 
death, represented in our 
baptism. Rom. vi. 4. Col. ii. 
13. 



C. 



CAB, a Hebrew measure 
containing the 18th part of 
an ephah, or about ninety- 
six solid inches. 

C^ESAREA, was built by 
Herod the Great, on the 
coast of the Mediterranean, 
sixty miles or more from Je- 
rusalem, Its harbour was 
fine and its trade extensive. 
Here Cornelius lived,Acts x. 
Here Agrippa was smitten of 
worms. Here Agabus fore- 
told Paul's imprisonment. 

OESAREA PHILIPPI 
was a different city, built or 
at least greatly adorned and 
named by Philip the Te- 
trarch ; and hence its double 
name — he choosing to honor 
Tiberius Caesar and himself. 
It was the residence of the 
woman healed of the issue 
of blood. Matt. x. 20. Its 
location was in the north of 
Palestine, a day's journey 
from Sid on. 

CALLING, any lawful 



employment. That gener- 
al invitation to repentance, 
by the ministry, by provi- 
dence, or by the motions of 
the Holy Spirit on the con- 
sciences of men, whereby 
they are warned of their 
danger, and taught the need 
of a Saviour. That more 
particular invitation by the 
preaching of the word, and 
effectual operation of the 
Holy Spirit, whereby sinners 
know, believe, and obey the 
Gospel. 

CALVARY, or Golgo- 
tha, the place of a skull. 
A hill so called either from 
its being in the shape of a 
man's head, or because it 
was a place of execution, 
which among the Romans as 
as well as Jews, was often 
done by beheading. Judges 
ix. 5. 2 Kings xv. 7. Matt, 
xiv. 10. It is a small hill, 
on the north side of mount 
Zion. The Empress Hele- 



CAM 



23 



CAP 



na built a noble church on 
this spot, which still exists. 

CAMBYSSES, called in 
Scripture Ahasuerus, was 
the son of Cyrus, and came 
to the throne of Persia be- 
fore Christ, 529. He sus- 
pended the repairs of Jeru- 
salem. Ezra iv. 8. 

CAMEL. Every reader 
will know the outlines of the 
camel's form from the pic- 
tures they see. They are 
used by the Arabs, &c. as 
we use horses, and are much 
more valuable in those des- 
erts and hot countries. Their 
flesh and especially their 
milk is excellent food. Their 
ability of doing; without wa- 
ter to drink, is astonishing. 
Job had after his affliction 
6000 camels. 

CAMP. In the camp of 
the Hebrews in the desert, 
the tabernacle was placed 
in the midst. Moses, Aaron, 
and their families, had their 
tents on the east of it. On 
the south pitched the Ko- 
hathites : on the west, the 
Gershonites : on the north, 
the Merarites. Thus it was 
encompassed by the Levites. 
Before the tabernacle, on the 
east side, was the camp of 
Judah, Issachar, and Zebu- 
lun : on the south, of Reu- 
ben, Simeon, and Gad : on 
the west, of Ephraim, Man- 
asseh, and Benjamin: on the 
north, of Dan, Asher, and 
Naphtali. When the Israel- 



ites marched, they had a 
triple warning by the silver 
trumpets; one, to pack up 
their baggage ; a second, to 
assemble to their standards ; 
and a third, to begin their 
march. The camp of Judah 
marched first ; the taberna- 
cle was then taken down ; 
and the Gershonites and Me- 
rarites, laying the boards on 
waggons, followed. Upon a 
second alarm, the camp of 
Reuben marched; the Ko- 
hathites followed, with the 
more sacred furniture of the 
tabernacle on their shoul- 
ders. Next followed the 
camp of Ephraim. Psl. lxxx. 
1,2; and that of Dan brought 
up the rear. Numb. i. ii. 
iv. x. 

CAMPHIRE. The tree 
is a kind of bay or laurel : 
some of them are 300 feet 
high, and can scarcely be 
grasped by 20 men. The 
carnphire drug is neither ros- 
in, volatile salt, nor oily 
juice, nor bitumen, nor gum ; 
but a mixed substance, dry, 
white, transparent, and brit- 
tle, of a strong, penetrating, 
fragrant smell, but bitterish 
taste ; which either distils 
from the tree, or may be ex- 
tracted by a chemical pro- 
cess. 

CAPADOCIA, a country 
having the Euxine sea on the 
north, Armenia the greater, 
on the south, Galatia and 
Pamphylia on the west, and 



CAP 



24 



CAR 



Cilicia on the east. Proba- 
bly this country was peopled 
by the descendants of To- 
garmah. It was famous for 
horses and flocks ; and trad- 
ed with the Tyrians in horses 
and mules. Ezek. xxvii. 14. 
Capadocia was probably a 
province of the kingdom of 
Lydia. According to He- 
rodotus, it next passed to the 
Medes, and then to the Per- 
sians, whose worship the in- 
habitants embraced, and af- 
terwards added to it part of 
the idolatry of the Greeks. 
Christianity flourished con- 
siderably here, and it pro- 
duced a number of famous 
bishops who laboured in the 
work of the Lord. We can 
trace the history of Chris- 
tianity in thi3 country till the 
ninth century, nor is it yet 
altogether abolished. 

CAPERNAUM, a princi- 
pal city of Galilee. It stood 
on the western shore of the 
sea of Tiberias, in the border 
of Zebulun and Napthali, not 
far from Bethsaida. It re- 
ceived its name from a clear 
fountain hard by. Here 
Christ resided and taught, 
and here Matthew was call- 
ed. 

CAPHTOR, thought to be 
the same as Capadocia. Deut. 
ii. 23. 

CAPTIVITY, the state of 
a person who is at the com- 
mand of another, and com- 
pelled to obey his will. God 



often punished the vices and 
infidelity of his people by 
different captivities, into 
which they were permitted 
to fall. The most remarka- 
ble instances are the Assyr- 
ian captivity, 2 Kings xviiL 
9 — 12, and the Babylonish 
captivity, Jer. xxv. 12. It is 
generally believed that there 
was no return from the for- 
mer captivity, and that the 
ten tribes never came back 
again after their dispersion. 
He led captivity captive, 
Eph. iv. 8. that is, our Lord 
Jesus Christ, by his victory 
over death, Satan, and sin, 
conquered and triumphed 
over these leaders into cap- 
tivity, and over all our spirit- 
ual enemies. 

CARBUNCLE, a precious 
stone of great beauty, next 
in value to the diamond, and 
very rarely found. The fin- 
est and largest are found in 
the East Indies, and are very 
rare. There was one in the 
high priest's breastplate. It 
is of a bright red colour, 
shining in the dark, common- 
ly of the size of a small pea. 

CARE, anxious thought, 
or extraordinary cautious 
concern. Man's care is law- 
ful when he endeavours to 
please God, mourns for his 
sins, and regulates his con- 
duct by the word of God ; 
when he is concerned about 
the welfare of others, and 
solicitous for the salvation of 



CAR 



25 



CHA 



their souls ; when he mod- 
erately takes thought for the 
tilings of this present life, re- 
signing himself, at the same 
time, to the will of God ; but 
unlawful, when he is care- 
ful about things which are 
forbidden, so as to make pro- 
vision for the flesh to ful- 
fil the lusts thereof; when 
he has a perplexing care 
about lawful things, to the 
neglect of the worship of 
God, and distrust his provi- 
dence. 

CARMEL, a city, situate 
in a mountain of the same 
name, in the south part of 
the inheritance of Judah, 
about ten miles south-east of 
Hebron. The name signifies 
a vineyard. 

CARNAL, fleshly, or be- 
longing to the flesh ; and is 
applied to worldly things, 
such as silver and gold, and 
other things needful for sus- 
taining the bod3 r , Rom. xv. 
27. 1 Cor. iii. 11; sensual, 
or governed by the sensual 
appetites ; and is applied to 
such as are in a natural, un- 
regenerated state, who are 
enemies to God, and given 
to sensual pleasures, John 
iii. 6. Rom. viii. 7. The cer- 
emonial law is called carnal, 
because it consisted of such 
rites, ceremonies, and ordi- 
nances, as only related to 
the body and the purifying 
of the flesh, but did not reach 
the soul, Heb. ix. 10. 



CARPUS, the friend and 
host of Paul, when he was 
at Troas, 2 Tim. iv. 13. He 
is thought to have been one 
of the seventy disciples. 

CASTOR AND POL- 
LUX, the fabled sons of Ju- 
piter. They were heroes 
who cleared the sea of pi- 
rates, and came in after times 
to be worshipped as deities. 
The vessel Paul sailed in, 
(Acts xxviii.) had their fig- 
ures carved at the prow. 

CEDAR, a tree of great 
size and beauty in warm lat- 
itudes, and much celebrated 
in the scriptures. It is an 
evergreen of slow growth, 
and the timber it produces 
does not decay when preserv- 
ed from damp. A few yet re- 
main on Lebanon. They 
must formerly have been 
found there in great abun- 
dance, for great quantities of 
the wood was obtained from 
these mountains. 

CENTURION, an officer 
who has the command over 
a hundred soldiers. 

CHALDEA, a country in 
Asia, north of Judea. Its 
capital was Babylon. It was 
bounded by Mesopotamia on 
the north, and Arabia the 
Desert on the west, the Per- 
sian gulf, and part of Arabia 
Felix on the south. The 
soil was very fertile; but 
had little rain, sometimes 
scarce any for eight months ; 
nor is there much need for 



CHE 



26 



CHU 



it, as the Tigris and Euphra- 
tes yearly water it ; and the 
inhabitants, by painful toil, 
supply what is wanting. Its 
ancient name was Shinar, 
because the Lord, by the 
confusion of tongues, did as 
it were, shake the inhabi- 
tants out of it, to people the 
rest of the world. 

CHALDEANS. This name 
means, 1. The inhabitants of 
Chaldea, and 2. A sect of 
philosophers whose employ- 
ment it was to interpret 
dreams and foretel events. 

CHALCEDONY, a pre- 
cious stone resembling the 
agate, but of a pale grey or 
bluish cast. 

CHARITY, a principle of 
love to God, and benevolence 
to men, which inclines the 
possessor to glorify God, and 
to do good to others. Its 
distinguishing characteristics 
may be seen, 1 Cor. xiii. 

CHASTISEMENT, the 
correction of an offender, 
either by word or deed. The 
chastisement of our peace, 
&c. Isa. liii. 5. signifies that 
punishment which was laid 
upon Christ by God's justice, 
and by which our peace, that 
is, our reconciliation to God, 
was to be procured. 

CHEERFULNESS, glad- 
ness of heart: gaiety, or 
liveliness of disposition ; free- 
dom from dejection or gloomy 
thoughts : also contentment 
in present circumstances. 



CHEMOSH, a Moabitish 
idol supposed by some to be 
the sun, others have thought 
it was the same as Bacchus. 

CHERUB, the singular of 
Cherubim, a word which is 
of doubtful derivation. It is 
thought by some that the 
Egyptian sphinxes were im- 
itations of the Hebrew cher- 
ubs. Grotius, Bochart, and 
Spencer, suppose they re- 
sembled an ox or a calf. 
Angels are so called, because 
they often appeared as young 
men, mighty in power and 
knowledge, Psl. xviii. 10. 

CHRONICLES. Two 
books of Scripture are so 
called, the writer of which is 
not now known. 
CHRYSOLITE, a precious 
stone of a dusky green — the 
topas, not very costly. It was 
the tenth in the breastplate of 
Aaron, and bore the name of 
Zebulun. Rev. xxi. 20. 

CHRYSOPRASUS, a pre- 
cious stone of a green and 
yellow colour. Rev. xxi. 
20. 

CHURCH. The word so 
rendered was anciently used 
to signify any public meeting 
of persons to consult the com- 
mon welfare of a city or 
state ; and sometimes it was 
given to an unlawful assem- 
bly. Acts xix. 32, 39, 41. It 
has been contended, that the 
place of sacred meeting is so 
called in 1 Cor. xi. 18, 22. 
xiv. 34. With respect to 



CIL 



27 



CLE 



sacred assemblies, the word 
is used to signify a society of 
men called of God by the 
gospel, out of the world that 
lieth in wickedness, into the 
faith, fellowship, obedience, 
and worship of the Lord 
Christ, and of God in him. 
With respect to which sense 
it is taken more or less large- 
ly. It signifies, (1.) The 
whole body of the elect, as 
united under Christ their 
Head, Col. i. 18. (2.) The 
followers and worshippers of 
Christ in a particular prov- 
ince or city, as Ephesus, 
Smyrna, Jerusalem, Rome, 
&c. Rev. ii. hi. (3.) A par- 
ticular body of men, that are 
wont to meet together in 
one place, to profess, worship, 
and serve the Lord Christ. 
Thus we read of churches 
in particular houses, Rom. 
xvi. 5. Col. iv. 15. The fol- 
lowers of Christ, who are 
here in a state of spiritual 
warfare against the world, 
the flesh, and the devil, are 
called the church militant. 
But in heaven, where their 
conquest over sin and death 
is complete, and they are re- 
warded with eternal bless- 
edness, they are styled the 
church triumphant. 

CILICIA, a province on 
the north of Syria. It had 
Pamphylia on the west, the 
Mediterranean on the south, 
the mountain Amanus on the 
east, and part of Cappadocia 



and Armenia the Less on the 
north. 

CIRCUMCISE, to cut off 

the foreskin, according to 
the commandment given to 
Abraham, as a sign of that 
covenant which God had en- 
tered into with him, that out 
of Abraham's loins should 
proceed Christ, or the Messi- 
ah, in whom all the ends of 
the earth should be blessed. 
To be spiritually circumcis- 
ed, or to be the true spir- 
itual seed of Abraham, is 
to have the thing signified 
by that sign or ceremony., 
and to perform all those du- 
ties which circumcision was 
designed to enforce— name- 
ly, to believe in the Messi- 
ah, to put off the old man, 
and to serve him as new 
creatures, which is signified 
by his acceptance of, and 
submission to the ordinances. 
Phil. hi. 3. 

CLEAN, pure, free from 
defilement. Grain is clean 
when freed from the chaff. 
Isa. xxx. 24. Clean beasts 
and birds were those [which 
God made it proper for his 
people to eat. But under 
the New Testament to the 
pure all things are pure; 
that is, ail food is clean if we 
eat it with thankfulness and 
prayer. Cleanness of teeth 
in the old testament means 
the want of any thing to eat. 

CLEOPH AS, probably the 
same with Alpheus, is said to 



coc 



28 



CON 



have been the brother of Jo- 
seph, our Lord's supposed fa- 
ther, and the husband of Ma- 
ry, the sister of the blessed 
Virgin, the father of Simon 
and James the Less, and of 
Jude and Joseph, or Joses, 
the cousin-german of Christ. 

CLOTHES. See Rai- 
ment. 

COALS. A pot of coals 
was used at our Saviour's 
trial for the men to warm 
themselves who had been 
exposed to the night air and 
dew in apprehending Christ. 
In the day time fire was 
rarely necessary in the Holy 
Land. The disciples were 
to pray that their flight might 
not be in the winter, (Matt. 
xxiv. 24,) not so much on ac- 
count of the cold, as of the 
swelling of the streams and 
torrents, especially in the 
mountains. The rains in that 
country are very violent, ac- 
companied with strong winds. 
Hence the danger of the 
man whose house was found- 
ed on the sand. Matt. vii. 
25. 

^COCKATRICE. A serpent 
of great venom, probably the 
Cobra de Capello. The eggs 
of serpents are sometimes 
found. Isa. xiv. 29, declares 
that if eaten in mistake for 
those of birds, they prove 
fatal. The prophecy, (Isa. 
xi. 6, 8,) seems to have been 
obscurely known to the an- 
cient Hindoos. Their god, 



Krishnu, is represented as 
playing on a flute with such 
charming melody that before 
him, in one peaceful group, 
stand a young ox, a tyger, 
and a serpent. 

COCKLE, a weed that 
grows among wheat. The 
Hebrew word boshah, signi- 
fies any stinking weed. Job 
xxxi. 40» 

COMMUNION, the con- 
cord of doctrines or opinions 
in several persons. The act 
of receiving the Lord's Sup- 
per, that sign of our fellow- 
ship with Christ, 1 Cor. x. 
16. The communion of saints 
is that fellowship which the 
saints have with Christ by 
faith, and among themselves 
by love. 1 John i. 3. Act3 
iv. 32, 34, 35. 

CONCISION, a term used 
in reference to the Jews, or 
rather certain Gnostics, Rev. 
ii. 9. The apostle, Phil. iii. 
2, uses the term to denote 
persons who would cut asun- 
der the church of Jesus 
Christ. 

CONDEMNATION, the 
act of passing sentence a- 
gainst a person, by which 
he is doomed to punishment ; 
the punishment itself. A- 
mong the Greeks, condem- 
nation was signified by a 
black stone, and absolution 
by giving a white stone, to 
which an allusion is made in 
Rev. ii. 17. 

CONEY, a curious ani- 



CON 



COO 



mal, found in Ethiopia, Ara- 
bia, Palestine, and parts ad- 
jacent. It abounds on Mount 
Lebanon, living under stones 
and in holes of the rock. Its 
size is rather less than that 
of a cat. It has no tail nor 
voice,and chews the cud,Lev. 
xi. 5. It is called Ashkoko, 
by the natives of Amhara. 
It is remarkably inoffensive 
and timid, feeding only on 
roots and fruits, &c. but es- 
capes its enemies by running 
into holes inaccessible to lar- 
ger animals. Psl. civ. 8. 
Prov. xxx. 26. 

CONFESS, plainly to ac- 
knowledge. Jesus Christ 
will confess his people at the 
last day, and publicly own 
them his children and faith- 
ful servants. Luke xii. 8. 
They confess him before 
men, when, notwithstanding 
all danger and opposition, 
they openly profess and ad- 
here to his truth, observe his 
ordinances, and walk in his 
way. Matt. x. 32. To con- 
fess God, is to praise and 
thank him. Heb. xiii. 15. 
To confess sin, is candidly to 
acknowledge our guilt be- 
fore God, who can pardon or 
punish us ; or to our neigh- 
bour, w T hom we have offend- 
ed, or who can give us prop- 
er instruction and comfort. 
Psl. xxxii. 5. James v. 16. 
Matt. iii. 6. 

CONSCIENCE, that pow- 
er of our mind, which com- 
D 



pares qualities and actions 
with the law of God, and de- 
cides on the good or evil tend- 
ency of an action according 
to the degree of light. Rom. 
ii. 15. Conscience is good, 
when, being sprinkled with 
Jesus' blood, it clearly dis- 
cerns the will of God, and 
urges obedience to his law, 
from gospel motives, and ap- 
proves for the same. 1 Tim. 
i. 5. It is pure, purged from 
dead works, when, by the 
application of Jesus' blood, 
it is freed from the sentence 
of death due to sin, delivered 
from the slavery of indwell- 
ing corruption, and by the 
instruction of the Holy Ghost, 
is rendered clear in its views, 
holy in its aims, and a vigo- 
rous opposer of every thing 
sinful. 1 Tim. iii. 9. Heb. 
ix. 14. x. 2, 22. 

CONVERSION, a turning 
from one manner of life, or 
set of principles, to another. 
In the gospels the word is 
used to signify the entire 
change which religion pro- 
duces in the disposition, prin- 
ciples, and behaviour. Matt, 
xviii. 3. Without this change 
we cannot enter heaven. 

CONVICT,or Convince, 
to persuade one of the truth 
of any thing. Acts xviii. 28. 
The Holy Spirit does this, 
when it applies the law to the 
conscience, and produces 
genuine repentance. 

COOS, pronounced Co-os. 



cov 



CRO 



A small island in the Medi- 
terranean sea, near the south- 
west point ot Asia Minor. 
Hypocrates,t\ie famous phy- 
sician, and Ajppelles, the no 
less famous painter, were 
natives of this island. It is 
now called Stajvcora. 

CORBAN, a gift to reli- 
gious purposes. A thing de- 
voted to God. Covetous, 
greedy priests and Pharisees 
encouraged young people to 
give largely to the temple, 
even while their parents and 
families suffered for want. 
Matt. xv. 

CORINTH, one of the 
most wealthy cities of Greece, 
and capital of Achaia. Paul 
staid here preaching near- 
ly two years, and during 
the time wrote the Second 
Epistle to the Thessalonians. 
COURT, an enclosed space 
near or within a house. That 
round the tabernacle was 
formed of pillars and veils 
hung by cords. The method 
of building private houses in 
the form of a hollow square, 
made the court on the inside. 
COVENANT, an agree- 
ment made to do some par- 
ticular thing. The old cov- 
enant is called the covenant 
of works, which was broken 
by our first parents,by whose 
transgression all their poster- 
ity were involved in ruin. 
Deut. iv. 13. The covenant 
of redemption, and salvation 
by grace, is called the new 



covenant, — Heb. viii. 6, 8, 
— in respect to the order 
of its dispensation, and man- 
ner of manifestation ; and al- 
so because, being ratified 
afresh by the actual suffer- 
ings and blood of Christ, and 
freed from former ceremo- 
nies, it contains a more full 
revelation of religion, is at- 
tended with a larger meas- 
ure of the gifts and graces of 
the Spirit, and is never to 
wax old, or be abolished. 

COVETOUSNESS,an ea- 
ger, unreasonable desire of 
gain; a longing after the 
goods of another. It is call- 
ed idolatry, Col. iii. 5. be- 
cause the covetous man 
places that delight and con- 
fidence in riches which are 
due to God. This sin is ex- 
pressly forbidden in the tenth 
commandment. 

CRACKNELS, a sort of 
seed-cakes or buns. 1 Kings 
xiv. 3. 

CROSS, a sort of gibbet, 
consisting of two pieces of 
wood placed crosswise, in 
the form of a f or X. That 
of our Saviour is said to have 
been of the former kind. 
It was a common punishment 
among the Syrians, Egyp- 
tians, Persians, Africans, 
Greeks and Romans. With 
the Jews it was not used at 
all, hanging on a tree being 
an execution of a different 
kind. It was therefore no in- 
considerable effect of the di- 



CRO 



31 



CRY 



vine providence, to order mat- 
ters so as that Jesus should 
suffer this death of the cross. 
It was exceedingly painful, 
and lingering. First, (he 
criminal was scourged with 
cords, often with bones at 
their end. Next, he bore 
his cross, or part of it, to the 
place of execution. Cruci- 
fied persons were sometimes 
bound to the cross with 
cords, as St. Andrew prob- 
ably was ; but commonly 
nails were driven through 
the hands and feet. The 
sufferer was always cruci- 
fied quite naked. It was 
sometimes two or three days 
before the person expir- 
ed : hence the legs of the 
thieves crucified along with 
Christ were broken, that 
their death might be hast- 
ened. Sometimes persons 
were crucified with their 
head downwards. In this 
manner, it is said, Peter de- 
sired to be crucified, not 
thinking himself worthy to 
die like his Master. An in- 
scription, representing the 
cause of the punishment, 
was ordinarily written on a 
table at the top of the cross. 
It is often said that the crim- 
inal was fastened to the 
cross before it was raised. 
This is probable, when cords 
were used. But the jar of 
forcibly settling the cross in 
the ground, would have 
broken off the body with 



dreadful anguish. Indeed, 
there is a certainty, that a 
piece of wood jutted out 
under the feet, or a large 
peg was inserted half way 
up the cross to serve as a 
sort of seat. It is observa- 
ble, how the inscription on 
Christ's, instead of charging 
him with a crime, plainly 
hinted his innocence and 
Messiahship : nor could the 
heathen governor be pre- 
vailed on to alter it. Christ 
was crucified through the 
weakness of his humanity, 
but liveth by the power of 
God ; was raised from the 
dead, and lives for ever by 
his own divine power, 2 Cor. 
xiii. 4. compare 1 Peter iii. 
18. The word is used met- 
aphorically for the whole of 
Christ's sufferings, but espe- 
cially those on the tree, or 
cross. Heb. xii. 2. 

CROWN, an attire, or 
dress for the head. Those 
in the games were made of 
parsley, pine, flowers, &c. 
Those for kings, of gold, 
adorned with gems. 

CRUCIFY, to put to 
death by the cross. A Ro- 
man mode of executing vile 
slaves, and considered a 
great infamy to soldiers or 
noble citizens. Figurative- 
ly it means to subdue our 
evil propensities. 

CRYSTAL, a hard, trans- 
parent, and colourless fossil, 
of a regular angular form. It 



cus 



32 



CYR 



gives fire with steel. There 
are three kinds of pure crys- 
tal, besides various sorts 
mixed with other different 
substances. Crystal was 
anciently found in an island 
of the Red Sea, and the cups 
and other vessels made of it 
were reckoned very valuable. 
Pliny mentions one worth 
about 5000 dollars. To punish 
the men of his generation, 
Nero furiously broke two 
crystal cups. But it is now 
of far less esteem. Job 
xxviii. 17. The firmament 
above the cherubims, the 
sea of glass before the throne 
of God, the river of life, and 
the light of the new Jeru- 
salem, are likened to crys- 
tal, to mark their purity, 
clearness, and illuminating 
influence, Ezek. i. 22. Rev. 
iv. 6. xxii. 1. xxi. 11. 

CUBIT, an arm, and meas- 
ure equal to eighteen inches. 
It rose from measuring 
with the arm from the elbow 
to the end of the hand. The 
sacred cubit was the length 
of twenty-one and three quar- 
ters inches. Ez. xliii. 13. 

CUMMING, an herb sup- 
posed to resemble fennel ; 
very common in Judea. 

CUSH. 1. The eldest 
son of Ham, and father of 
Nimrod, Gen. x. 8. 2. A 
country on the A raxes, af- 
terwards inhabited by the 
Scythians. 3. Another name 
for Ethiopia, Isa. xi. 11. 4. 



A country in Arabia Petrea, 
bordering on Egypt, of which 
Zippora was a native, Numb, 
xii. 1. 

CYMBAL, an instru- 
ment of loud music, used 
with others, but giving no 
melody of itself. To speak 
with tongues, if not done 
out of love to souls, was but 
a pompous act of self praise, 
and was of no use. 1 Cor. 
xiii. 1. 

CYPRUS, a famed island 
in the Mediterranean sea, 
about one hundred miles 
north of Syria, and sixty 
south of Cicilia ; one hun- 
dred and seventy-five miles 
long, and from forty-five to 
sixty in breadth. It abound- 
eth with Cyprus trees ; from 
whence it took its name. 
According to Josephus, it 
was peopled by the descend- 
ants of Chittim. The tree 
bears a flower of most de- 
lightful fragrance. 

C YRENE, a country west 
of Egypt, and the birth place 
of Callimachus the poet, 
Eratosthenes the historian, 
and Simon, who bore the Sa- 
viour's cross. Many Jews 
from here were at the Pen- 
tecost, and become converted 
under Peter's sermon, Acts 
ii. It is now called Cairoan. 
The region is now under the 
Turkish power, and has be- 
come almost a desert. 

CYRUS, the famous king 
of the Medes and Persians. 






-^ 




DAGON. 



P. 33. 



DAM 



33 



DAR 



He was a Mede himself, but 
marrying the daughter of 
the king of Persia, he fell 



reigned thirty years. Dan. 
vii. 5. Isa. xlvii. 11. The 
first three chapters of Ezra 



heir to both crowns ; and describe his measures to re 



thus those kingdoms became 
united. He died at the age 
of seventy, after having 



store Jerusalem. 
by sees. 



See Cam- 



D. 



DAGON, a chief idol of 
the Philistines, probably the 
same as Nebo, Isa. xlvi. 1. 
Though so signally disgrac- 
ed at Ashdod, the worship of 
it was not abandoned till 
A. M. 3840, when the Jew- 
ish leader Jonathan burnt it 
and its temple. The im- 
age represented the body 
of a fish with the head and 
arms of a man. It is thought 
by Mons. Gentil, to be the 
same as the Vishnu of the 
Hindoos. Near Rangoon, in 
Burmah, is the Shoe Da- 
goun, or gilt temple of Da~ 
gon. 

DALMANUTHA, a prov- 
ince on the east side of the 
gulf of Venice, 2 Tim. iv. 
10, either the same as Mag- 
dala, or near it. 

DAMASCUS, once a 
most noble city in the north 
part of Palestine, and one of 
the most ancient on earth, 
being mentioned Gen. iv. 15. 
It is now the capital of a 
Turkish pachalic ; and con- 



tains 80,000 inhabitants, of 
whom 15,000 are nominal 
Christians. Superior swords 
are made here, and a species 
of silk, called, from the place, 
damask. We have roses 
and plums which were in- 
troduced from thence, and 
bear the same name. It is 
now called Dameschk or 
Scham. The Greek Pa- 
triarch of Antioch resides 
there. 

DAMNATION, the state 
of being excluded from di- 
vine mercy ; that condem- 
nation to eternal punish- 
ments which is the awful 
condition of the wicked in a 
future state. Matt, xxiii. 
33. 

DARIUS, or Cyaxer- 
xes, king of theMedes, and 
brother to the mother of 
Cyrus. When he conquer- 
ed Babylon he constituted a 
senate to govern it, of which 
Daniel was one. 

Darius Hystaspis was 
the husband of Esther. 



DEA 



DEC 



Darius Codomanus 
was originally poor and ob- 
scure ; but for his valour, 
was made governor of Ar- 
menia by the king of Per- 
sia. He contrived the mur- 
der of his sovereign, and by 
the intrigue of Bagoas, the 
chief eunuch, ascended the 
throne. He was soon after 
conquered, and deprived of 
his ill-gotten throne, by Alex- 
ander the great. 

DATES,' the fruit of the 
Palm tree. 

DEACON, one that serves 
tables. Phil. L 1. Deacons 
were first created to take 
care of the poor ; but some 
of them afterwards became 
preachers of the word. 

DEAD SEA, the same 
with the Lake Asphaltites, 
in the south-east part of 
Greece. The valley of Sid- 
dim, which was near Sodom, 
makes part of this sea. Gen. 
xiv. 3. This lake receives 
the river Jordan, the river 
Arnon, and the brook Kidron, 
besides other rivulets, and 
has no visible communica- 
tion with the sea. The great 
quantity of bitumen, slime, 
or mineral pitch therein, ren- 
ders it improper for fish to 
live in, or for men to drink 
it ; and the sulphurous 
steam makes even the fruit 
on the shore not good in 
some places. The Gentile 
world is likened to this Dead 
Sea, to mark how cursed it 



is of God — how disagreeable 
and useless. 

DEATH, temporal— the 
extinction of life, or separa- 
tion of the soul from the 
body. Spiritual, a separa- 
tion of soul and body from 
God's favour in this life, 
which is the state of all the 
unregenerate. The second 
or eternal death, is perpetual 
exclusion from God's heav- 
enly presence and glory. 

DEBTOR, one that owes 
any thing to another. As 
the creditor has a right to 
exact pay from the debtor, 
so God hath a right to inflict 
punishment on the guilty. 
Thus men are debtors to 
God by trespassing against 
him ; and to their neigh- 
bours whom they injure, 
wrong, or offend. Debtor to 
the whole law — Gal. v. 3 — 
means, obliged to keep the 
whole law, as the conditions 
of eternal life, and so virtu- 
ally disclaiming all pardon 
by Christ. The apostle 
Paul says he was a debtor 
both to the Greeks and Bar- 
barians ; that is, bound by 
his office to preach the gos- 
pel to all nations. 

DECAPOLIS, a country 
on the sea of Tiberias. It 
was called Decapolis, be- 
cause there were ten cities 
in it, viz. Bethshan, Gada- 
ra, Hippo, Pella, Caphar- 
tzemach, Beth-gubron, Ca- 
phar-carnaim, Cesarea-Phil- 



DEV 



35 



DIA 



ippi, Orbo, and another, 
whose name is not known. 

DEDICATION, the sol- 
emn act of setting apart any 
person or thing to some reli- 
gious use. The Feast of 
Dedication, observed by the 
Jews for eight days, was to 
commemorate the restora- 
tion of the Temple at Jeru- 
salem, under Judas Macca- 
beus, after it had been de- 
stroyed by Antiochus Epiph-. 
anes, 

DESERT. Some deserts 
were entirely barren ; oth- 
ers had fine pastures. Scrip- 
ture speaks of the beauty of 
the desert. Psl. Ixiv. 13. 
Jer. ix. 10. Joel i. 20. Al- 
most every town had a des- 
ert belonging to it, which 
answered to our commons. 
See Wilderness. 

DEUTERONOMY, the 
fifth book of Moses — so call- 
ed, from its Greek name, 
which signifies repetition. 
That part of this book which 
mentions the death of Mo- 
ses was added by inspired 
penmen afterward. 

DEVIL, a fallen angel ; 
the implacable enemy and 
tempter of the human race, 
called the god of this world, 
from his power and influ- 
ence. John xii. 31. 2 Cor. 
iv. 4. He has various titles 
given him in Scripture, ex- 
pressive of his character, as 
leviathan, or serpent, Isaiah 
xxvii. 1. ; Satan, Job ii. 6. ; 



Beelzebub, Matt. xii. 24.; 
Belial, 2 Cor. vi. 15. ; Luci- 
fer, Isaiah xiv. 12.; Dragon, 
Rev. xii. 7. ; a roaring lion 
and an adversary, 1 Peter v. 
8. ; prince of darkness, Eph. 
vi. 12. : Apollyon, or de- 
stroyer, Rev. ix. 11. ; angel 
of the bottomless pit. He 
is represented as a sinner 
from the beginning ; 1 John 
hi. 8 ; a liar, John viii. 44 ; a 
deceiver, Rev.xx. 10 ; an ac- 
cuser, Rev. xii. 10 ; a mur- 
derer, John viii. 44 ; and last- 
ly^ tormentor. Matt.xviii.34. 

DEW. The dew in Pal- 
estine, and some other Ori- 
ental countries, is very 
heavy, wetting the ground 
like a smart shower. It sus- 
tains vegetation, in some dis- 
tricts, where rain seldom or 
never falls. Gen. xxvii. 28. 
DIAMOND, the most 
precious of all gems, and the 
hardest. It is perfectly- 
white and transparent. 

DIANA, a celebrated god- 
dess of the heathens, suppo- 
sed to preside over hunting, 
and was represented as a 
young huntress, with a cres- 
cent on her head, the pedes- 
tal ornamented with heads of 
stags, dogs, &c. Acts xix. 
She was especially renown- 
ed at Ephesus. She was 
one of the twelve superior 
deities, and was called by 
the several names of Hebe, 
Trivia, Hecate, Diana, and 
Lucina. In heaven she was 



DIV 



36 



DRE 



the moon, or queen of heav- 
en, and perhaps the same 
with Meni, the numberer, 
or goddess of months. Jer. 
vii. 18. Ezek. xvi. 25. Isa. 
Ixv. 11. On earth, she was 
Diana and Trivia, the god- 
dess of hunting and high- 
ways. In hell, she was 
Hecate ; she was also called 
Lucina. 

DIONYSIUS, the Areo- 
pagite, or judge in the court 
of Areopagus. In his youth, 
it is said, he was bred in all 
the learning of Athens, and 
went afterward to Egypt, to 
perfect himself in astrono- 
my. Being at On when our 
Saviour died, and observing 
the miraculous darkness, he 
cried out, Either the God of 
nature suffers himself, or 
sympathizes with one that 
suffers. He was converted 
at Athens by Paul, and, it is 
said, became an evangelist, 
and was burnt as' a martyr 
in his own city, A. D. 95. 

DISCIPLE, a learner, or 
follower of another. Those 
who followed Jesus Christ 
from the beginning, were 
seventy in number, Acts vi. 
to whom Christ gave pre- 
cepts and admonitions, when 
lie sent them forth to preach 
in the cities of Judea, of 
which number, and at the 
head of whom, were the 
twelve apostles. 

DIVINATION, an art 
much practised among heath- 



en. So sinful is it in the 
sight of God, to resort to 
witches, magicians, or divin- 
ers, that the offence was 
made punishable with death. 
Deut. xviii. The means to 
discover hidden things by 
this art were various, — such 
as the flight of birds, entrails 
of beasts, lots, dreams, &c. 

DOCTRINE, knowledge or 
learning ; the leading matter 
in a discourse ; the truths of 
the gospel in general. Tit. 
ii. 10. It signifies a tenet or 
opinion, Matt. x. 12, divine in- 
stitutions, Matt, xv.3, instruc- 
tion, information, and confir- 
mation in the truths of the 
gospel. 2 Tim. iik 16. 

DOVES' DUNG. It is 
doubtful whether this arti- 
cle, mentioned 2 Kings vL 
25. was really pigeon's dung 
used for manure, as Jose- 
phus and Theodoret think, 
or a kind of tare or cicer, so 
called from its resemblance, 
when parched, to doves* 
dung. The Arabians call it 
chick peas. 

DRAGON signifies either 
a large fish, as the whale > 
crocodile, dolphin, &c. Gen. L 
21. Job vii. 12.., or a serpent 
of a large size. In some 
places it evidently means 
the deadly poisonous lizard 
called Gecko by the east In- 
dians. 

DREAM. Dreams pro- 
ceed much from business, or 
from constitution and habit* 



EAG 



37 



EAG 



It is probable they often be- 
gin from some outward sen- 
sation of the body, in which 
spirits, good or bad, have no 
inconsiderable influence. By 
supernatural dreams, God of 
old informed men of his 
mind. These were not the 
same as visions. The for- 
mer happened during sleep, 
Gen. xx. 3. and xxxi. 11. — 
the latter when the person 
was wide awake. Job iv. 

DROMEDARY, a fleet 
animal, so called from the 
Greek word A^ua I run. 
It is smaller and more slen- 
der than a camel, but can 
carry a man a hundred miles 
per day, 

DRUSILLA, the third 
daughter of Agrippa — was 
married to Azizus, King of 
the Emessenians, who was 
abandoned by her that she 
might marry Claudius Fe- 
lix, by whom she had a son 
named Agrippa. She was 
one of the most beautiful 
women of her age, but li- 
centious. Acts xxiv. 24. • 

DULCIMER, a musical 
instrument, used to make 



up a full chorus. Daniel 

iii. 5. 

. DURE, to last, continue, 

endure. 

DWELL, to abide, or live 
in a place. God is said to 
dwell in the heavens, and 
also with him that is of a 
contrite spirit. Ch rist dwells 
in the heart by faith, justi- 
fying the faithful soul by his 
merit, renewing it by his 
grace, purifying it by his 
Spirit, teaching it by his 
wisdom, keeping it by his 
power, and, by his commun- 
ion and compassion, sharing 
with it in all its troubles, and 
supporting it under all its 
trials. The Holy Ghost 
dwells in the soul by his 
gracious operations, working 
faith, love, and other graces 
therein. 

The word of God may be 
said to dwell in a person, 
when it is diligently studied, 
firmly believed, and careful- 
ly practised. Col. iii. 16» 
The godly are said to dwell 
in God, by having the most 
intimate union and commun- 
ion with him in Christ. 1 
John iii. 24. 



IB. 



EAGLE, one of the prin- 1 fore, and one behind. It is 
cipal birds of prey. It has! a very ravenous fowl. It 
a beak strong and hooked, sees or smells dead carcases 
Its feet have three toes be-.| at a prodigious distance. It 



EDO 



38 



EGY 



breaks the bones of its prey, 
to come at the marrow. Ev- 
ery year it moults, and be- 
comes almost naked and 
bald, and then renews its 
youth, by producing a set of 
new feathers. Psl. ciii. 5. 
Eagles are extremely tender 
of their young, and take them 
N on their wings when weak 
!and fearful. They fly high 
and quick ; have their nests 
in rocks, and are generally 
long lived. It was unclean 
in afl its species, which 
included the hawk, kite, 
&c. . 

EARNEST, pledge. It 
is money given in hand to 
confirm an agreement, and 
is applied to signify the as- 
surance which the spirit of 
adoption gives believers of 
their inheritance in heaven. 
So the earnest of the Spirit, 
2 Cor. i. 22. is a proof that the 
bargain will be made good, 
and the first fruits of the 
Spirit, Rom. viii. 13. or the 
graces wrought in the soul 
by the Spirit, are some pledg- 
es of that fulness of joy, 
and perfection of holiness, 
of which believers shall par- 
take in heaven. 

EDOM, was called. Esau, 
because he was hairy : and 
Edom, because his hair and 
complexion were red; and 
principally because he sold 
his birth- right for a meal of 
red pottage. He was born 
A. M. 2173. 



EDOM, or Idumea, the 
country of the Edomites, — 
lays on the south and south- 
east of the inheritance of 
Judah, and extended to the 
Elanitic gulf of the Red Sea. 
It was very mountainous, 
including mount Seir and 
Hor. Its principal cities 
were Selah, Bozrah, Elath, 
and Ezion-geber. 

EGYPT is situate be- 
tween the 24th and 33d de- 
gree of north latitude, and 
between the 29th and 34th 
of east longitude from Lon- 
don. Its greatest Length 
from north to south is six 
hundred miles, and its great- 
es breadth, from east to west, 
three hundred. It is bound- 
ed by the Mediterranean 
Sea, on the north ; Abyssinia 
on the south ; and on the 
east and west by mountains 
running parallel with the 
Nile. It was anciently call- 
ed Chemia, or the land of 
Ham ; and the present Copts 
call it Chemi, perhaps be- 
cause Ham resided here. 
The Hebrews call it Miz- 
raim ; and the Arabs to this 
day call it Mesr, from Miz- 
raim, the son of Ham, who 
peopled it. The arts and 
sciences were very early cul- 
tivated here, and maintain- 
ed a- greater degree of per- 
fection, for some ages, than 
was found in any other na- 
tion. The name Egypt was 
given it by the Greeks* and 



ELE 



39 



EMB 



signifies either the land of the 
Copts, a name which the an- 
cient inhabitants gave to 
thems ilves ; or the land of 
blackness, because the soil 
and water are of a blackish 
colour. The river Nile runs 
through it northward, and 
yearly waters it, so that rain 
is scarcely requisite ; and in- 
deed seldom happens in Up- 
per Egypt. The heat of 
summer is excessive, — but 
fruits abound. Lower Egypt 
produces the most excellent 
dates, almonds, figs, lemons, 
oranges, &c. The horses 
are very famous. The prac- 
tice of charming snakes so 
as to carry them about safe- 
ly, still prevails here. Psl. 
lviii. 4, 5. Jer. viii. 17. 
Egypt was anciently ex- 
tremely fertile ; but as the 
Nile has, by yearly addi- 
tions, raised the surface of 
the earth a great deal high- 
er, and now overflows to a 
less height, and brings worse 
mud along with it ; and as 
the enslaved inhabitants are 
disheartened from their an- 
cient care and industry, it is 
now but moderately fertile, 
and in ' time may become 
barren. It is now a prov- 
ince of Turkey, governed by 
a bashaw or pacha, and con- 
tains a population of about 
two millions, a considerable 
portion of which are Chris- 
tians and Jews. 
ELECTION, the act of 



choosing ; a token of special 
favour. 

ELEMENTS, the ingre- 
dients or constituent parts 
whereof compound bodies 
are formed. Fire, air, earth, 
and water, used to be called 
elements ; but it is now as- 
certained that all these are 
compounds. The earth, in 
its various kinds of original 
matter, shall be melted with 
fervent heat at Christ's se- 
cond coming. 2 Peter iii. 10. 
Elements also signify the al- 
phabet of letters, and sylla- 
bles formed of them ; and 
thence it is transferred, to 
signify the rudiments, first 
rules, or first principles of a 
science. Col. ii. 8, 20. Heb. 
v. 12. The rudiments of 
this world, which are not to 
be used in the gospel-church, 
are ceremonial laws and hu- 
man customs, which are not 
proper for such as enjoy the 
clear instructions of the gos- 
pel. Col. ii. 8, 20. 

To EMBALM dead bod- 
ies, is to fill them with odorif- 
erous and drying spices and 
drugs. The embalming of 
dead bodies appears to have 
had its origin, as well as to 
have attained its highest per- 
fection, among the Egyp- 
tians ; but whether their 
want of access to bury their 
dead during the overflow of 
the Nile, or a regard to civil 
honour, or a fancy that the 
freshness of the body tended 



EMB 



40 



EMB 



to detain the soul in it, chief- 
ly prompted them hereto, we 
know not. The manner of 
embalming was this : when 
a person died, the corpse 
was carried to the coffin- 
maker, that he might pre- 
pare a fit coffin, with its up- 
per side representing the 
body enclosed ; and great 
men had their coffins paint- 
ed or embellished accord- 
ing to their quality. The 
corpse was next carried to 
the embalmer, and the price 
of embalming settled with 
him. The highest was a- 
bout one thousand three 
hundred dollars; the sec- 
ond about 440, and the 
lowest but a mere trifle. 
The corpse being extended 
on a table, they drew out 
all the inwards, then filled 
the parts with myrrh, cas- 
sia, and other spices, frank- 
incense excepted. The brain 
was drawn out by the nose, 
with an iron hook, and the 
skull filled with astringent 
drugs. The whole body 
was then anointed with oil 
of cedar, myrrh and cinna- 
mon, &c. for the space of 
thirty days. It was next 
put into salt about forty days. 
Gen. 1. 3. Afterwards, it 
was wrapt in linen, some- 
times, it is said, to the extent 
of above one thousand yards, 
dipped in the oil of myrrh, 
and rubbed with a certain 
gum, and delivered to the 



relations, who put it into 
the coffin, and either kept 
it in their own house or in 
a tomb. By this embalming 
they could preserve dead 
bodies for thousands of years; 
some are still shewn, and are 
called mummies. 

The poor had oil of cedar 
infused, and the body wrapt 
in salt of nitre. The oil 
preyed on the intestines, and 
when the oil was extract- 
ed, they came along with 
it. Some of the poor- 
est did but cleanse the in- 
side, by injecting a certain 
liquor, and then laid the 
body seventy days in nitre, 
to dry it. Jacob and Joseph 
were no doubt embalmed in 
the manner of the Egyp- 
tians, as they died in that 
country. Gen. 1. 2, 3,26. 
The Jews embalmed their 
dead bodies ; but perhaps 
their manner was very dif- 
ferent from that of the E- 
gyptians. When our Sa- 
viour was crucified, the ne- 
cessity of his hasty burial 
obliged them only to wrap 
his body in linen, with a 
hundred .pounds of myrrh, 
aloes, and like spices, be- 
stowed by Nicodemus ; but 
Mary, and other holy wo- 
men, had prepared ointment 
and spices for further em- 
balming it. Matt, xxvii. 
59. Luke xxiii. 56. John 
xix. 39, 40. The use of a 
large quantity of spices on 



EPH 



41 



EPH 



such occasions, was thought 
an honour to the deceased. 

EMERALD, a precious 
stone — colour deep green — 
seldom exceeding the size of 
a pea. They are derived 
from India. 

EMMANUEL, or Im- 
manuel, a Hebrew word, 
which signifies, God with 
us. Matt; i. 23. .It is applied 
to the Messiah, in whom the 
two natures, divine and hu- 
man, were united. Isa. vii. 
14. 

EMMAUS. The situa- 
tion of the village of this 
name, to which the Saviour, 
after his resurrection, walk- 
ed with his disciples, is not 
certainly known ; but is 
thought it stood seven miles 
north of Jerusalem. 

ENVY, a painful vexa- 
tion of mind at another's en- 
joyment. It produces mal- 
ice and persecution. Acts 
xiii. 4. It is hateful to God, 
and always destroys the 
peace of such as indulge it. 
Phil. i. 15. 

. EPHA, a Hebrew meas- 
ure, containing somewhat 
more than half a bushel. 

EPHESUS, one of the 
most famous cities of Asia, 
said to have been built by 
Ephesus, an Amazon lady, 
as early as the days of Da- 
vid. It was situated on the 
river Cayster, about forty 
miles south of Smyrna, and 
was chiefly famed for a 



magnificent temple of Di- 
ana. It is said to have been 
four hundred and .twenty- 
five feet long, two hundred 
and twenty broad ; its roof 
supported by one hundred 
and twenty-seven pillars, 
seventy feet high, twenty- 
seven of which* were curi- 
ously carved, and the rest 
polished. It was burnt by 
the hand of the infamous 
Erostratus, on the very day 
Socrates was poisoned, viz. 
400 years .before Christ. 
Afterward it was rebuilt 
with increased splendour, at 
the common expense of all 
the. Grecian states. Before 
the time of Alexander, E- 
phesus had kings of her 
own. It was taken by An- 
tiochus the Great, of Syria. 
After it fell into the hands of 
the Romans, the inhabitants 
revolted to Mithridates, king 
of Pontus,.and on that ac- 
count, were pillaged and 
terribly taxed by Sylla, the 
Roman general. It was de- 
stroyed by an earthquake, A. 
D. 19, but quickly rebuilt. 
It suffered exceedingly in 
its various sieges and cap- 
tures, by the Saracens, Tar- 
tars, and Turks, and has 
gradually sunk to nothing. 
Toucrnefort says that he 
found at Ephesus but thirty 
or forty houses. Chandler 
found riot so many individu- 
als. Now, no human being 
lives at Ephesus ! Hy-saluck, 



EPI 



42 



EUP 



which may be considered 
another name for Ephesus, 
does not stand on the same 
place, and contains only a 
few wretched Turkish huts. 
The candlestick has been re- 
moved out of its place ! 
" How doth the city sit soli- 
tary that was full of people." 
The apostle John spent most 
of his life, and closed it here. 

EPICUREANS, philoso- 
phers who followed the doc- 
trine of Epicurus, who flour- 
ished at Athens, about A. M. 
3700. They maintained that 
the world was not formed by 
God, nor with any design, 
but by the fortuitous con- 
course of atoms. They de- 
nied that God governs the 
world, or in the least conde- 
scends to interfere with crea- 
tures below. They denied 
the immortality of the soul, 
and the existence of angels. 
They maintained, that hap- 
piness consisted in pleasure ; 
but some of them placed this 
pleasure in the tranquilli- 
ty and joy of the mind, 
arising from the practice of 
moral virtue, which is 
thought, by some, to have 
been the true principle of 
Epicurus : others understood 
him in the gross sense, and 
placed all their happiness in 
corporeal pleasure, of eating, 
drinking, &c. 

EPISTLE, or Letter. 
Twenty-one of the books 
of the New Testament 



are called epistles. The 
first fourteen were written 
by Paul; the other seven 
were written, one by James, ! 
two by Peter, three by John, 
and one by Jude. The mes- 
sages of the seven churches 
of Asia, recorded in Revela- 
tion, are called epistles. Rev. 
ii. and iii. 

ERASTUS, a disciple of 
Paul, and Chamberlain, that 
is, Treasurer, of the city of 
Corinth. He resigned his 
office, and became a travel- 
ling companion to Timothy. 
Rom. xvi. 23. 

ETHIOPIA, sometimes 
called in the Old Testament, 
Cush, from the oldest son of 
Ham, whose posterity set- 
tled the country on the south 
west of the Red sea. Acts 
viii. 27. It bordered on E- 
gypt, and was once a most 
powerful kingdom, with ma- 
ny noted cities. 

EUNUCH, thenam.3 giv- 
en to such officers as served 
in the inner courts, and 
chambers of kings. 

EUPHRATES, or Frat, 
the most famous river in 
Western Asia. From its 
source in the mountains of 
Armenia, its course is west- 
ward ; after which, at the 
foot of Mount Taurus, it 
bends southward, and hav- 
ing received the Melas, runs 
along the east side of Syria, 
and after -having watered 
Chaldea, it runs south, 



EV1 



43 



EXO 



and joins the Tigris, just a- 
bove where the ancient Par- 
adise is supposed to have 
stood. About sixty miles 
farther south, they discharge 
themselves into the Persian 
gulfc Like the Nile, it is 
subject to an annual over- 
flow, by which it imparts 
great fertility to the valley 
in which it runs. On its 
banks . stood Babylon — and 
Bussorah, about fifty miles 
from its mouth, is now a 
place of some importance. 

EUROCLYBON, a vio- 
lent and dangerous north- 
east wind, common in the 
Mediterranean sea about the 
beginning of winter. Acts 
xxvii. 14. It is now called 
by sailors, a Levanter. 

EVANGELIST, a bring- 
er of good news. It was ap- 
plied first to the inspired au- 
thors of the gospel of Jesus 
Christ, and also, in the prim- 
itive church, to those who 
went from place to place, to 
preach the glad tidings of 
the ever blessed gospel. 
The term is now used to sig- 
nify a minister who travels, 
and is not settled with any 
particular people. 

EVIL, an action contrary 
to the law of God ; any wrong 
done by one man to another. 
Matt. v. 39. It is put for 
the afflictions or punishments 
which God sends, Job. ii. 10. 
for sin and all its sufferings. 
Matt. vi. 13. To have an 



evil eye, Prov. xxiii. 6, is to 
be covetous, and secretly 
grudge the grace that is dis- 
pensed to others. Evil days, 
Eccl. xii. 1. signify the time 
of old age, which is calami- 
tous- in itself, and often load- 
ed with the remembrance' of 
youthful follies— Ye that put 
far away the evil day, Amo3 
vi. 3, that is, ye that drive 
away the thoughts of ap- 
proaching death and judg- 
ment. Satan is called the 
evil one, or evil spirit ; he 
is the author of all sin ; he 
perpetually works wicked- 
ness, and causeth trouble. 
John xvii. 15. Actsxix. 12. 
An evil time, is a season of 
much sinning, danger, and 
trouble. Amos v. 13. Mic. 
ii. 

EXODUS, the second 
book of Moses ; so called, 
because it relates to the histo- 
ry of the Israelites' depart- 
ure from Egypt. . It is a nar- 
rative of the transactions of 
about 145 years, from the 
death of Joseph, A. M. 2369, 
to the erection of the taber- 
nacle in 2514. 

EXORGIST, one who 
drives aw T ay evil spirits > or 
casts out devils. Our Sa- 
viour, when he sent out his 
disciples to preach the gos- 
pel, gave them power over 
unclean spirit's, to cast them 
out, Matt. x. 1. by which 
gift they gained repute a- 
mong the people, and gave 



FAR 



44 



FAT 



proof that they were sent of 
God. But those Jewish ex- 
orcists, mentioned Acts xix. 



13, were only impostors, de- 
luding the people by witch- 
craft or diabolical agency. 



F, 



FAITH, a dependance on 
the truth of an assertion. 
Divine faith is. a firm assent 
upon the authority of divine 
revelation. It is thus we are 
persuaded to believe all truths 
relating to God, revealed to us 
in the Scriptures. Justifying 
or, saving faith, is a grace 
wrought in the soul by the 
Spirit of God, whereby we 
receive Christ, as he is re- 
vealed in the gospel, to be 
a Prophet, Priest, and King ; 
trust in him, and rely upon 
his righteousness alone, for 
salvation. This faith begets 
a sincere obedience in life 
and conversation. Faith 
which worketh by love, Gal. 
v. 6. is faith which shows 
itself by producing in us 
love to God and to our neigh- 
bour. It is put for a belief 
and profession of the gospel. 
Rom. i. 8. 

FARTHING, a coin used 
by the Romans. Our trans- 
lators give this English to 
both «<rc# £J6V and K<)Sgetv7»js 
but these were different ; the 
first was the tenth part of a 



Roman penny, or about two 
cents. Matt.- x. 29. The 
latter was equal to two mites, 
and is about an eighth part- 
of cur cent. Mark xii. 42. 

FAN, an instrument for 
separating chaff from grain. 
It was formerly made in the 
shape of a wooden shovel, 
with a long handle. With 
this the grain, as it was 
gathered up into 'a heap on 
the threshing floor, was toss- 
ed in the air when the -wind 
blew, so that the chaff was 
driven away.- As it fell 
round the place, it was cus- 
tomary to sweep it together 
and burn if. See Matt. iii. 12. 

FAST, a solemn forbear- 
ance from food, accompanied 
by humiliation before God 
and prayer. Our Saviour 
did not appoint any fast days, 
but gave reasons why, after 
his death, his disciples should 
fast. Afflictions soon be- 
came common to Christians, 
and then they fasted. 2 
Cor. vi. 

FATHER, he that has a 
child. It is a title given to 



FEA 



45 



FEL 



the first ancestor, as Rom. iv. 
16; to the inventor and master 
of a certain art or science, 
or founder of a particular 
profession, Gen. iv. 20, 22. ; 
to that man t who, affected 
with the miseries of the poor, 
takes care to supply their 
necessities, and provide for 
their wants. Job xxix. 16 
God declares himself to be 
the Father of the fatherless, 
and a Judge of the widows. 
Psl. lxyiii. 5. God is emi- 
nently the Father, Creator, 
Preserver, and Protector of 
all his creatures, but princi- 
pally of those who call up- 
on his name, knowing and 
serving him. Deut. xxxii. 6. 
Rom. viii. 15, .16. God is 
frequently called Heavenly 
Father ; and Father of Spir- 
its. Heb. xii. 9. The dev- 
il is called the father of the 
wicked. John viii. 44. In 
church history the term is 
applied to the Christian wri- 
ters of thje first centuries. 
It is now customary to give 
this epithet to very aged and 
eminent saints. 

FEAR, apprehension of 
Guilt produces that 
solicitude and dread which 
is called slavish fear. Acts 
xxiv. 25. Filial fear is that 
holy feeling of the renewed 
heart toward God, which 
produces a reverent submis- 
sion to his providence, and 
ready obedience to all his 
commands. Heb. v. 7. 
E 



danger. 



FELIX was deputy for the 
Romans, in the government 
of Judea. He enticed Dru- 
silla to divorce Azizus, king 
of Emesa, and then took her 
as his own wife. He defeat- 
ed about tour thousand as- 
sassins, headed by an Egyp- 
tian impostor, who had post- 
ed themselves in the mount 
of Olives. Acts xxi. 38. 
Paul was brought before him 
at Cesarea, his head quar- 
ters; and, notwithstanding 
all that Tertullus and his 
assistants could say, was 
treated with humanity. 
Hoping that the Christians 
would have purchased his re- 
lease, he often sent for Paul, 
and communed with him. 
Upon one of these occasions, 
Paul reasoned with Felix 
concerning temperance, 

righteousness, and the last 
judgment, till Felix's awak- 
ened conscience made him 
tremble. He was a bad 
man, and governed with 
great injustice and cruelty. 
In the year 60 he was re- 
called to Rome, and Festus 
was sent in his room. The 
Jews followed him to Rome, 
and complained of his extor- 
tion and violence ; and he 
would have been punished 
with death, had not his bro- 
ther Pallas, by his credit at 
court, preserved his life. 
Acts xxiii. xxiv. 

FELLOWSHIP, or Com- 
munion, is a term of great 



FIG 



46 



FIS 



importance in the Scriptures 
of truth. There is a fellow- 
ship to which the people of 
Christ are admitted with God 
the Father, and with his Son, 
Jesus Christ, the blood of 
Jesus cleansing from all sin. 
1 John i. 3, 5, &c. The^re 
is a fellowship which they 
have with one another. 1. 
In all the spiritual blessings 
which the gospel brings to 
the guilty. 2. In temporal 
things ; which in a particu- 
lar manner is pointed to, 
Acts ii. 42. When the disci- 
ples of Christ communicate 
jointly of their worldly sub- 
stance to the support of the 
poor, this fellowship takes 
place. 3. The church con- 
nection is called a fellowship, 
and is opposed to having fel- 
lowship with the unfruitful 
worksof darkness. Eph.v. 11. 

FESTUS succeeded Felix 
in the government of Judea. 
He took no trouble to inves- 
tigate the claims of Christi- 
anity, and when Paul spoke 
of its mysteries, thought that 
much learning had made 
him mad. Acts xxv. and xxvi. 

FIGURE, shape, resem- 
blance. Idols are called fig- 
ures, because they are made 
after the likeness of some 
original form. Acts vii. 43. 
Adam, Isaac, &c. and some 
ancient ceremonies, were 
figures or types, as they 
shadowed forth Jesus Christ. 
Rom. v. 14. Heb. xi. 19, and 



ix. 9. Baptism is called a 
figure ; its washing of wa- 
ter shadows forth the wash- 
ing of our souls in the blood 
of Christ. 

FIG TREE, a well known 
plant which flourishes in hot 
countries. The fruit is me- 
dicinal, and is exported, in a 
dried state, to every part of 
the world. The leaves of 
the tree are very large, on 
which account Adam and 
Eve made aprons of them. 
The tree itself is large, and 
some have been mentioned 
which would shelter three 
hundred men. Christ blast- 
ed a fig tree on which he 
found no fruit, though "" the 
time of figs was not yet," — 
that is, the time of gathering 
figs had not quite arrived. 
The tree was, therefore, ev- 
idently barren, and had not 
already been stripped. The 
goodness of God is remarka- 
bly apparent in this tree. It 
flourishes in rocky, barren 
places, where almost nothing 
else will grow ; and a single 
tree (says Tournefort) will 
sometimes produce two hun- 
dred and eighty pounds of 
figs. So* valuable w r as this 
tree in the land of Canaan, 
that to have it killed, or even 
to have it fail of its annual 
fruit, was reckoned a dread- 
ful calamity. Joel i. 6, 7. 
Heb. hi. 18. 

FISHES were created on 
the fifth day, by the word of 



FLA 



47 



FLh 



God's power. Some are of 
monstrous size, and some are 
too small to be seen without 
powerful glasses. Their sit- 
uation has ever prevented 
an accurate knowledge of 
their number, structure, or 
manners'. Under the He- 
brew law, none were called 
clean and allowed to be eat- 
en, but such as had fins and 
scales, so that lobsters, oys- 
ters. &c. were prohibited. 

FIRKIN, a Greek meas- 
ure, holding about four gal- 
lons and a half; that is about 
a fourth part of a bath. John 
ii. 6. 

FIR-TREE. The fir-tree is 
very tall, straight ever green, 
abounding with a gum called 
rosin. Its fruit somewhat 
resembles burrs of the pine 
tree. The wood was an- 
ciently used for musical in- 
struments, building, and fur- 
niture of houses and ships. 
Psl. civ. 17. Jesus Christ 
is compared to a green fir- 
tree. Hos. xiv. 8. His peo- 
ple are likened to fir-trees. 
Isa. xli. 19, and Iv. 13, and 
lx. 13. 

FLAY, to strip off the 
skin ; a punishment used in 
some countries upon great 
offenders, by which they 
were slowly killed, with the 
utmost suffering. Mic. iii. 
3. Some of the early Chris- 
tians were martyred in this 
manner. 

FLAGGON, a vessel or 



cruse usually intended for 
wine, and containing about a 
pint. 2 Sam. vi. 19. 

FLAX, a plant of which 
linen is made. Egypt car- 
ried on a great trade in the 
article of linen ; and the de- 
struction of the flax, in one 
of the plagues of Moses, 
must have been a great ca- 
lamity. When it is said the 
flax had " boiled," it means 
the seed vessels had begun 
to assume their roundish form. 

FLESH, that soft part of 
any animal, which lies be- 
tween the skin and the bone ; 
used in Scripture for living 
men, and animals in general. 
It is understood for the whole 
nature of man, as it cometh 
into the world infected with 
sin. Rom. vii. 5. viii. 8. 
For all that in religion which 
is outward, and to be seen 
with the eye, as moral works 
or ceremonies of the law. 
Rom. iv. 1. Gal. iii. 3. For 
the remainder of natural 
corruptions, which acts in 
opposition to the Spirit in re- 
generated persons. Rom. vii. 
IS, 25. Gal. v. 17, 24. 
Flesh' also signifies the 
human nature of Christ, 
whereby his divine nature 
was vailed, even as the mer- 
cy seat, and the most holy 
place were by the vail. 
Heb. x. 20. It is also taken 
for the outward appearance. 
John viii. 15. A heart of 
flesh denotes a tender, tract- 



FOO 



48 



FOR 



able temper and disposition of 
soul. 

FLOOR, the bottom of a 
house. 1 Kings vi. 15. The 
place where corn was thresh- 
ed out. Hos. ix. 1. Judges 
vi. 37. As threshing-floors 
were anciently under the 
open sky, it is said they were 
formed of clay, and lees of 
oil beaten together; which, 
when once dried, no water 
could enter it, no weed grow 
on.it, nor any mice, rats, or 
ants, penetrate into it. The 
church is likened to a thresh- 
ing-floor; for here Christ 
gathers his glorious harvest, 
and here he will thoroughly 
cleanse it. Matt. iii. 11. 

FLOTES; fiat bottomed 
vessels, such as are now call- 
ed scows ; or a collection of 
trees, fastened together by 
ropes, to be drawn along by 
water, in the manner we 
make a raft. 1 Kings v. 9*. 

FOOL, an idiot, or a very 
weak man; one who fore- 
sees not evils to prevent 
them, and neglects the sea- 
son of obtaining what is 
good. In the language of 
Scripture, a sinner, in oppo- 
sition to a prudent man ; one 
who makes something in.this 
world his highest aim, and 
spends his chief time and la- 
bor about it, to the neglect 
of infinitely higher interests. 
Those who upbraid their 
brethren as fools, are in dan- 
ger of hell. Matt. v. 22. 



Whatever is without good 
reason, and does not secure 
men's true and eternal ad- 
vantage, is foolish ; and 
hence we read of foolish 
talking, foolish lusts, foolish 
questions, &c. Eph. v. 4. 
1 Tim. vi. 9. Tit. iii. 9. 

FOOT, that on which any 
animal or thing stands, or 
is supported? a measure of 
twelve inches. In old times, 
it was customary to wash 
the feet of strangers after a 
journey, because they either 
walked barefoot or wore on- 
ly sandals. Gen. xviii. 4. 
xix. 2. xxiv. 32. Widows, 
maintained by the church, 
were to be such as had 
washed the feet of the 
saints; that is, had been 
ready to do the meanest ser- 
vices for the servants of God. 
1 Tim. v. 10. Our blessed 
Saviour, to give an example 
of humility, washed the feet 
of his apostles, and thereby 
taught them to perform all 
the most humble services 
for one another. 

FORGIVE, to pardon an of- 
fence. To forgive sin is the 
prerogative of God only. 
When the Pharisees, who 
denied the divinity of Christ, 
heard him forgiving sins, 
they said, M this man blas- 
phemeth.' Matt. ix. 13. 
And agreeably to this, the 
God of Jacob says, " I, even 
I, am He that blotteth out 
thy transgressions." Isaiah 



FRA 



49 



FRO 



xliii. 25. Christ having ex- 
ercised this power, proves 
him to be divine. Acts v. 31. 
FOX. There is reason to 
think tli at the word shuol 
means ajackall, and not a fox ; 
and that the true fox is not 
mentioned in all the Scrip- 
ture. The Psalmist, speak- 
ing of his enemies says, 
" they shall be a portion lor 
foxes," that is, jac kails shall 
tear them out of their graves 
or devour them unburied. 
Samson might have caught 
jackalls by scores, but the 
fox is scarcely ever found 
in Judea. The coun- 
try of the jackall is Asia 
Minor and the neighbouring 
countries. It chooses hilly 
places, boldly approaches 
travellers, and at night en- 
ters villages, always going 
in troops. It is not so large 
as a wolf, but rather larger 
than a fox, and lives on small 
animals, grapes, vegetables, 
and carcasses. Cant, ii. 15; 
FRANKINCENSE, a 
S^im, anciently much burnt 
in temples, and now used in 
medicine. It distils from in- 
cisions made in the tree dur- 
ing the heat of the summer, 
and when placed on live 
coals, sends up a dense fra- 
grant smoke. Some frank- 
incense is. brought from the 
East Indies: but it is not e- 
qual to that of Arabia or Sy- 
ria. The form of the frank- 
incense tree, Pliny says, is 



like a pear tree. Frankin- 
cense is still used in the Po- 
pish ceremonies, as well as 
by Heathens. Luke i. 10. 
Rev. viii. 3. 

FRONTLET, See Phy- 
lacteries. 

FROG. There are two 
species of frog, one of which 
lives in the water, and the 
other on the land. The for- 
mer kind was made the 
plague of Egypt, when Is- 
rael was cruelly detained in 
slavery. As the frog, in E- 
gypt, was the emblem of 
Osiris, it was held sacred by 
the people ; and this plague 
is one of the many evident 
instances when Jehovah pun- 
ishes men by means of the 
very things they improperly 
regard. This is still more ap- 
parent when we consider 
that the Nile in which they 
were produced, was suppos- 
ed by the Egyptians to be 
peculiarly sacred, and de- 
serving of religious venera- 
tion. Though the frog is 
not venomous, such legions 
of them penetrating every 
place, and filling their food 
and beds, rendered life intol- 
erable. When it is said, Psl. 
lxxviii. 45, " He sent frogs 
and destroyed them, 3 ' it proba- 
bly means that the stench of 
them when killed, infected 
the air, and swept off many 
by pestilence. The frogs 
prophesied of by John, Rev. 
xvi. 13, are false teachers 



FRU 



50 



FUL 



who originate in the slough 
of human depravity, are 
loathsome to the pure, dis- 
turb the peace by their per- 
petually croaking out com- 
plaints, reproaches, and vain- 
glorious inflations. Because 
frogs show themselves most 
actively after a rain, some 
have foolishly imagined that 
they were produced by the 
rain. 

FRUIT, the produce of 
the earth, plants, &c. Fruit 
of cattle is their young. 
Fruit of the body signifies 
children. Deut. xviii. 4. 
" Fruit of the lips," is the 
sacrifice of praise and thanks- 
giving. Heb.xiii. 15. "Fruits 
meet for repentance," are 
such a holy life and conver- 
sation, as manifest the reali- 
ty of repentance. Matt. iii. 
8. " Fruits of the spirit," are 
love both to God and our 
neighbours, and those gra- 
cious habits wrought in the 
soul ; as joy, peace, long- 
suffering, gentleness, good- 
ness, faith, meekness, and 
temperance. Gal. v. 22, 23. 
*' Fruits of righteousness," 
Phil. i. 11, are such good 
works and holy actions, as 
spring from a gracious frame 
of heart. Fruit is taken for 
a charitable contribution, 
which is the fruit or effect 
of faith and love. Rom. xv. 
18. Fruit, when spoken of 
good men, means the fruits 
or works of righteousness 



and holiness ; but in regard 
to wicked men, it designates 
the effects of sin, immorali- 
ty, and wickedness. See 
our Saviour's doctrine. Mat. 
vii. 16. 

FULL, fulness. 1. De- 
siring no more of a thing. 
Isa. i. 11. « I am full of the 
burnt offerings of rams." 2. 
Perfect, that which wants no- 
thing. 2 John viii. 3. Such 
as are puffed up with a con- 
ceit of their own sufficien- 
cy and worth, so as to feel 
no need of Christ. Luke vi. 
25. " Wo unto you that are 
full." To be full of years , 
is to have lived to a good old 
age. Gen. xxv. 8. The 
fulness of time, is the time 
wherein the Messiah appear- 
ed, .which was appointed by 
God, promised to the fathers, 
foretold by the prophets, ex- 
pected by the Jews them- 
selves, and -earnestly longed 
for by all who looked for re- 
demption, the fulness of this 
time is when that time was 
fully come. Gal. iv. 4. 
" When the fulness of time 
was come, God sent his Son." 
The fulness of God, is such 
a measure of perfection as 
God hath appointed to every 
one of the elect through 
Christ. Eph. iii. 19. "That 
he might be filled with all 
the fulness of God," is shar- 
ing in the most ample man- 
ner in the unsearchable rich^ 
es of Christ, 



GAD 



51 



GAL 



G. 



GABBATHA, a word of 
Chaldee or Syriac origin, 
which language was, at the 
time of our Saviour, in vul- 
gar use. It means the pave- 
ment, a large court or a-j 
partmenr, used as a court-! 
room. 

GABRIEL, the name of 
the archangel, mentioned 
Luke i. 11, 26, who appear-; 
ed at different times to Dan- i 
iel, Zacharias, &c. It is 
doubtful if there be more 
than one archangel, as the j 
word never occurs in the I 
plural. Learned men think I 
the term is applied to Christ. 

GADARA, the capital of 
Perea, in Ccelo-Syria, and 
stood about eight miles east- 
ward of the sea of Tiberi- 
as. The Gadarenes kept 
great numbers of swine, 
which they sold to such as 
were not lorbidden by their 
religion to eat them ; but 
which was directly contrary 
to the Mosaic law. When 
Christ, in healing two pos- 
sessed persons, suffered the 
devils to enter their herd of 
swine, and drown them, in- 
stead of being humbled by 
their punishment, they be- 
sought the Saviour to leave 
their country. About forty 



years after the city was burnt 
by the Romans, Mark v. Luke 
viii. 26, &c. Matt. chap. viii. 
28, calls this the country of 
the Gergesenes, because 
Gergesa was the name of the 
country where Gadara stood, 
or was a city near to Gada- 
ra ; and Christ healed the 
possessed men on the border 
betwixt the two, or in a 
place common to both. 

GAL ATI A, a province of 
Asia Minor, north of Lyca- 
onia, and now called Nata- 
lia. About 175 years before 
Christ, it was reduced into a 
Roman province. The gos- 
pel was planted here by 
Paul. Acts xvi. He wrote 
an epistle to these churches. 
Deiotarus, for whom Tully 
interceded, was king of this 
country. About A. D. 266, 
it was overrun by the Goths. 
It is now a province of Tur- 
key, and Christianity is al- 
most extinct. 

GALBANUM, an odorifer- 
ous gum, extracted, it is sup- 
posed, from a plant not un- 
like the large native fennel, 
which was found on the 
mountains of Syria. It con- 
stituted an ingredient in the 
holy anointing oil. Exodus 
xxx. 34. 



GAR 



52 



GAT 



GALILEE, that part of 
Canaan which comprehend- 
ed Issachar, Zebulon, Nap- 
thali, and Asher. Our Sa- 
viour, and most of the dis- 
ciples were educated here ; 
and here were most of the 
miracles wrought. On this 
account, Jesus and his fol- 
lowers were often called 
Galileans. Luke xxiii. 6. 
Acts ii. 7. 

GALLIO was brother to 
Seneca, the famous moral 7 
ist, and adopted son of Lu- 
cius Junius Gallio, for whom 
he was named. Under 
Claudius, he became gov- 
ernor of Achaia. He acted 
as a judge very mildly and 
properly, when a rabble, un- 
der the influence of Sosthe- 
nes, accused Paul ; but he 
dreadfully 'erred in not in- 
quiring into the nature of 
Christianity, and accepting 
its salvation. During the 
reign of the furious Nero, 
he was put to death. 

GARMENT. It was the 
custom when great men of 
the east gave a feast, to 
make a present to each guest 
of a robe to wear on that oc- 
casion; and sometimes the 
silver or gold cup. out of 
which they drank, was also, 
added. This explains Matt, 
xxii. 11 — 13, which might 
otherwise seem severe. The 
man acted contemptuously, 
and insultingly, and merited 
his doom — so do all act who 



reject the robe of Christ's 
righteousness. Princes, espe- 
cially great kings and priests, 
generally wore white gar- 
ments ; such were also worn 
on the occasions of great 
joy and gladness. Eccl. ix. 
8. In mourning, men gen- 
erally wore- sackcloth, or 
hair- cloth. Prophets, when 
their messages were terri- 
ble, and the tiines dark, oft 
wore a mourning dress of 
coarse stuff or skin. 2 Kings 
i. 7, 8, 'Matt. iii. 4. False 
prophets, in order to deceive 
the people, clothed them- 
selves after 'the same man- 
ner. Zech. xiii. 4. 

GATE, the entrance to a 
residence or foitified place. 
A. large room was built over 
the gate on the wall of the 
city, used as a council cham- 
ber, and court of justice, or 
town hall. We have a re- 
markable example of the 
mode of procedure, in the 
fourth chapter of Ruth. It 
was here that Absalom made 
his seditious speeches. 2 
Sam. xv. Mordecai sat at 
•the king's gate, not a poor 
mendicant, but as a judge ; 
and therefore Haman said, 
" All this availeth me noth- 
ing, so long as I see Morde- 
cia the Jew sitting at the 
king's gate." Esther v. 13. 
Peace and war were pro- 
claimed from the gate ; and 
hence the gates of hell, is a 
proper expression for the 



GAZ 



GEN 



power and influence of hell, 
which shall not prevail a- 
gainst the church. Matt. 
xvi. 18. The straight gate 
is the truth, which, level- 
ling the pride of the human 
heart, and opposing all man's 
own righteousness, shuts him 
up to the faith of the Son of 
God. 

GATH, a city of Philistia, 
the capital of the people 
called Gittites. It stood 14 
miles south of Joppa, and 
was one of the most ancient 
cities in the world. It still 
exists, though now a place 
of small consequence. Its 
present name is Jebna. Sev- 
eral other places appear to 
have gone under this name. 
One in Galilee, where Jonah 
was born, Josh. xix. 13. 2 
Kings xiv. 25, one in the 
tribe of Dan, and another in 
Manasseh. Josh., xxi. 24. 

GAZA. 1. A city of the 
Ephraimites, 1 Chron. vii. 
28, now called Razza. 2. A 
city between Palestine and 
Egypt, and about two miles 
and a half from the Medi- 
terranean sea. It was an- 
ciently a city of the Phi- 
listines, but given to the 
tribe of Judah, who con- 
quered it, after the death of 
Joshua. Judg. i. 18. The 
Philistines retook it, and kept 
possession of it till the reign 
of David. Samson carried 
the gates of it almost to He- 
bron, and afterward was im- 
F 



prisoned, and died in it, along 
with many of the inhabi- 
tants. Judges xvi. David 
finally reduced it. 

GENEALOGY, a list of 
ancestors ; an account or 
history of the rise, progress, 
and present state of any per- 
son or family, showing the 
regular descent. The ex- 
actness of the Jews in this 
respect, was ordered by the 
special providence of God, 
that it might be certainly 
known, of what tribe and 
family the Messiah was born. 
After the birth of Christ, 
such circumspection was un- 
necessary ; and if persisted 
in, could only indicate an 
unchristian pride of ances- 
try, as will appear from the 
words of the apostle Paul. 1 
Tim. L 4. Tit. iii. 9. 

GENERATION signifies 
in Scripture, 1. Posterity, 
offspring. Gen. x. 1. 2. Line 
of descent. The book of the 
generation of Jesus Christ, 
is a history of his lineage, 
life, and death. Matt. i. 1. 
11 This generation shall not 
pass away, till all these 
things be fulfilled," means 
that the people living in the 
time of Christ, should not be 
all dead, when Jerusalem, 
and the Jewish nation, would 
be ruined by the Romans. 
Matt. xxiv. 34. The word 
may here be applied to the 
Jewish nation, which our 
Lord foretels should not pass 



GEN 



54 



GIF 



away till his second coming. 
In fulfilment of this prophe- 
cy, we see them subsisting 
at this day, a distinct and 
separate generation. In 
Christ's time, the Jews were 
a faithless, perverse, and un- 
toward generation. Mark 
ix. 41. Acts ii. 42. The 
saints are " a chosen genera- 
tion," a generation dedicated 
to the Lord, and who seek 
his face. 1 Pet. ii. 

GENESARETH, a fine 
lake, or inland sea, twelve 
miles long, and five or six 
broad ; very subject, from 
the character of the sur- 
rounding hills, to sudden 
gusts of wind. It is the 
same as the Sea of Tiberias, 
John xxi. 1, and Sea of Gal- 
ilee. Matt. iv. 18. 

GENTILE, a term ap- 
plied by the Jews to all who 
were not of their religion ; 
one ignorant of the true 
God ; a Heathen or Pagan, 
sometimes called a Greek. 
Sf. Paul is commonly called 
the Apostle of the Gentiles, 
or Greeks, 1 Tim. ii. 7, as he 
was principally sent to preach 
Christ to them ; whereas St. 
Peter and the other Ap'os- 
tles preached generally to 
the Jews, and were there- 
fore called the Apostles ol 
the circumcision. Gal. ii. 7. 
That the ancient and godly 
Jews desired the conversion 
of the Gentiles, appears from 
the prayer which Solomon 



addresses to God after the 
dedication of the temple. 1 
Kings viii. 41. The Psalm- 
ist says that the Lord shall 
give the Gentiles to the Mes- 
siah for an inheritance. Psl. 
ii. 8. And the Christian 
church is now composed al- 
most wholly of Gentiles. 

GIBEAH, a city of Ben- 
jamin, situated on a fine hill 
six miles north of Jerusalem. 
Josh. xv. 57. It was for a 
while the royal residence of 
Saul. 

GIBEON, a city 5 miles 
north of Jerusalem, the in- 
habitants of which deceived 
•Joshua by sending a depu- 
tation to him to make a trea- 
ty of peace, whose dress, &c. 
indicated that they had come 
from a very great distance, 
and consequently did not 
belong to any of the nations 
which God had commanded 
them to destroy, and whose 
country they w T ere to occu- 
py. The covenant was kept 
by the Hebrews, though 
thus falsely obtained ; and 
instead of being destroyed, 
they were made to serve as 
hewers of wood, and draw- 
ers of water. Joshua ix. 
and x. 

GIFT, that which is free- 
ly given. It is applied in an 
eminent manner to Jesus 
Christ, God's unspeakable 
gift. Our Lord says to the 
woman of Samaria, "If thou 
knewest the gift God, viz. 



GIR 



55 



GLO 



Him who sayest to thee, 
give me to drink," &c. John 
iv. 10. When Christ as- 
cended up on high, he re- 
ceived gifts for the rebel- 
lious. Psl. Lxviii. 18* These 
gifts he poured down on the 
days of Pentecost, and gave 
some apostles, prophets, &c. 
Faith is the gift of God, Eph. 
ii. 8 ; and as the wages of 
sin is death, so eternal life 
is the gift of God* Rom. vi. 
23: Every good and perfect 
gift comes from God. James 
i. 17. The gifts and calling 
of God are without repent- 
ance ; that is, what he hath 
given, according to his di- 
vine and eternal purpose, 
cannot be reversed. 

GILEAD, a mountainous 
district extending from Leb- 
anon to Moab, eastward of 
the river Jordan, famous for 
balm, Jer. viii. 21, and for 
pasture. Songs, iv; 1. 

GIRDLE, any thing bound 
round the waist ; generally 
used by the Jews to gird their 
clothes about them when 
they were at work or on a 
journey. Girdles of leather 
were worn in token of hu- 
mility, as by Elijah, 2 Kings 
i. 8, and John the Baptist, 
Matt. iii. 4. Girdles of 
sackcloth were the marks of 
humiliation, and worn in 
times of mourning. Isaiah 
iii. 24. To have the loins 
girded, Luke xii. 35, is to 
he always prepared for any 



service that God may require, 
and be like servants who 
are ready to obey their mas- 
ter's commands. 

GLASS. According to 
Pliny and Tacitus, the Phe- 
nicians were the inventors 
of glass. The Ethiopians 
anciently preserved their 
dead bodies in large glasses. 
The invention of burning 
glasses is commonly ascrib- 
ed to Archimedes, of Sicily;, 
who lived about two hun- 
dred years before Christ, 
The word of God is compar- 
ed to a glass, because it rep- 
resents to us our real char- 
acter, as a glass does the 
face. — This is one great in- 
ternal evidence of the truth 
of Revelation. James i. 23,25. 
GLORIFY, to pay divine 
honour ; to make glorious ; 
to exalt to glory or dignity. 
Thus God glorifies his peo- 
ple by adorning them with 
gifts and graces in this world, 
and by bringing them to the 
full possession of glory and 
blessedness in heaven. We 
are said to glorify God, when 
we ascribe to him the glory 
of every excellency, wheth- 
er of nature or of grace, 
Rev. iv. 11 ; when we be- 
lieve God's promises, and 
wait for the performance, 
Rom. iv. 20 ; when we pub- 
lickly acknowledge true re- 
ligion, or any special truth 
of God, when it is general- 
ly opposed, Luke xxiii. 47 ; 



GLO 



56 



GOD 



when we suffer for God, 1 
Pet. iv. 16; when we give 
thanks to God for benefits or 
deliverances, Luke xvii. 18 ; 
when on the Sabbath we 
devote ourselves only to the 
service of God, Isa. lviii. 
13 ; when we love, praise, 
admire, and esteem Christ a- 
bove all, John i. 14. and 
xi. 4. 

God the Father is glori- 
fied in Christ the Mediator, 
by his obedience unto death, 
whereby the work of man's 
redemption was consumma- 
ted, and the justice, wisdom, 
mercy, and holiness of God 
made manifest. 

God glorified Christ, by 
manifestly owning him to be 
his Son ; by sustaining his 
human nature against the 
gates of hell, in his agony and 
passion on the cross ; and by 
enabling him to triumph over 
his people's enemies in his 
resurrection, ascension, and 
exaltation to his Father's 
right hand. John xvii. 1. 

GLORY. 1. The unspeaka- 
ble blessedness of the saints 
in heaven. 2. Worldly splen- 
dour and greatness. The 
heavens declare the glory of 
God ; that is, manifest his 
infinite wisdom, power, and 
goodness, and ought to excite 
our gratitude, love, adoration 
and praise. The miracles 
which our Saviour wrought 
manifested his glory, or his 
divine power. John ii. 11. 



GOD, the Supreme, Al- 
mighty, and Eternal One, of 
whom are all things. How- 
ever ignorant of the true 
character of God, all men, in 
all ages, have, in one degree 
or another, acknowledged 
the existence of a God. 

The names applied to the 
Godhead in Scripture are, 
El, Adonai, Jehovah ; and 
these have each their re- 
spective significations, ap- 
plicable to the characters in 
which God has been pleased 
to reveal himself. The words 
Jehovah, Elohim, occur more 
than once in the first chap- 
ter of Genesis, as the name 
of the Godhead. "And Jeho- 
vah, Elohim, said, Behold, 
the man is become like one 
of us, to know good and 
evil." Gen. iii. 22 ; one of 
us, necessarily and unavoid- 
ably implies a plurality of 
persons. No reasoning can 
do away the force of this 
and many similar instances 
which might be adduced, 
did our limits admit : unani- 
mously proving, that in the 
earliest revelations God 
made of himself to guilty 
man, the doctrine of the 
Trinity was clearly taught. 
Men may talk in a general 
way about the power, good- 
ness, and other attributes of 
God, but from the Scrip- 
tures only can we form any 
thing like just ideas of these 
attributes. 



GOL 



57 



GOL 



GODHEAD means the 
nature or essence of God. 
Col. ii. 9, Rom. i. 20, Acts 
xvii. 29. 

GODLINESS, the whole 
revelation of God : thus 
Paul says, " Great is the 
mystery of godliness." 1 
Tim. iii. 16. It sometimes 
means the imitation of God, 
by a holy life. In other 
texts it is used as synony- 
mous with godly, that which 
proceeds from God ; thus, 
godly sorrow, is the sorrow 
which God only can pro- 
duce, and worketh repent- 
ance. 2 Cor. i. 12. Godly 
fear is that fear of God 
which is the beginning of 
wisdom ; and a godly man 
is he who loves God from a 
sense of much forgiveness. 

GOG and Magog. Gog 
means probably the Ottoman 
family and government. Ma- 
gog probably means Sy- 
thia. The ravages of the 
northern barbarians in Italy, 
&c. and the final ruin of the 
Turkish empire are probably 
meant by John, Rev. xx. &c. 

GOLD, a precious metal, 
seldom found in a state of 
ore, but in a native state ; 
though even native gold has 
almost always some mixture 
of other metals. Native gold 
is sometimes found in the Ger- 
man mines, in pure masses of 
about a pound weight ; and in 
Peru, twenty-five pounds 
weight ; this was called their 



fine gold. More frequently 
it is found in loose particles, 
mingled with the sand of 
rivers, especially in Africa. 
Gold is often found bedded 
in stones of various kinds, 
and even in the earth, at the 
depth of one hundred and 
fifty fathoms. North Caro- 
lina, in the United States, is 
becoming famous for its gold 
mines. Gold is the most 
ductile of all metals, an ounce 
of it having been drawn 
into a wire two hundred and 
forty miles long ! It is in- 
capable of rust; nor can the 
melting of it in a common 
fire diminish its weight ; but 
if exposed to the focus of a 
strong burning glass, it flies 
off in small particles; and, 
it is said, sometimes goes off 
in smoke, and the remainder 
loses the nature of gold, and 
becomes a kind of vitrioL 
It requires no great heat to 
melt gold, and before it runs 
it appears white ; and when 
melted,appears of a pale bluish 
green colour on the surface- 
GOLIATH, a famous giant, 
of Gath, whose height was 
eleven feet four inches. His 
brazen helmet weighed about 
fifteen pounds avoirdupois ; 
his target, or collar affixed 
between his shoulders to de- 
fend his neck, about thirty ; 
his spear was twenty-six 
feet long, and its head weigh- 
ed thirty-eight pounds; his 
sword four ; his greaves on 



ORE 



58 



GRI 



his legs thirty ; and his coat 
of mail one hundred and fif- 
ty-six ; and so the whole ar- 
mour, two hundred and sev- 
enty-three pounds weight. 

GOSPEL, good news ; a 
revelation of the grace of 
God to fallen man, through 
a Mediator ; and a means, 
which, by the Spirit, saves 
men from perdition. The 
word is also used to mean 
the narrative of our Sav- 
iour's life, death, and res- 
urrection ; and sometimes 
for the doctrines contained in 
that narrative. Rom. xi. 28. 

The number of mankind 
living in nations enlighten- 
ed by the gospel, is probably 

THREE HUJVDRED MIL- 
LIONS. Of these, one half are 
Catholics, and thirty millions 
are Greeks, both of which 
churches are very corrupt. 
GRACE. Favour or mercy. 
Divine grace is the free and 
undeserved love and favour 
of God, which is the spring 
and source of all the bene- 
fits which we receive from 
him, especially redemption 
through Jesus Christ. Rom. 
xi. 6. Grace is taken for 
a lively sense of this favour, 
or the love and fear of God 
dwelling in the heart. 2 
Cor. i. 12. — For the doc- 
trine of the gospel, which pro- 
ceeds from the grace of God. 
GREECE, in Hebrew, Ja- 
mn, Isa. Ixvi. 19 ; a country 
on the south-east of Europe ; 



largely taken, it contained 
the Peleponnesus, or Morea, 
Achaia, Thessaly, Macedo- 
nia, if not also Epirus on the 
west of Macedonia, &c. ; 
but, more strictly taken, it 
contained the three former. 
It is about four hundred 
miles from south to north, 
and three hundred and fif- 
ty-six from east to west. Its 
present divisions are Mace- 
donia, Albania, Livadia, the 
Morea, the Archipelago, and 
Candia. It was probably 
peopled soon after the flood* 
Few countries are more fa- 
voured by nature, as to its 
soil, climate and productions. 
Many of the most famous 
statesmen, orators, and gen- 
erals of antiquity, had their 
birth here. The arts and 
sciences here attained a 
great eminence, as did also 
poetry and eloquence. 

GRIND, to bruise smallj. 
as meal is bruised in a mill. 
Anciently they had only 
hand-mills for grinding their 
meal. The stones were a- 
bout the size of a common 
grind stone. Women and 
slaves, such as Samson was 
at Gaza, and the Hebrews 
at Babylon, were usually 
the grinders. They sat on 
each side of the mill, Matt, 
xxiv. 41. Christ's falling 
on men, and grinding them 
to powder, denote his ren- 
dering them utterly misera- 
ble for their contempt of him. 




TWO WOMEN GRINDING AT A MILL. P. 58. 



HAL 



59 



HAR 



H. 



HABAKKUK, a prophet 
of the tribe of Simeon, who 
prophesied during the reign 
of Manasseh, and was co- 
temporary with Jeremiah. 

HABERGEON, a breast- 
plate worn by soldiers in 
former times. Since the 
use of gunpowder, this, and 
all other kinds of armour, 
except the helmet, has fail- 
en into disuse, except some- 
times for cavalry. 

HAGGAI, the first of the 
three Jewish Prophets that 
flourished after the captivi- 
ty ; was born in Chaldea ; 
and began his public work of 
prophecying, about seven- 
teen years after the return 
from Babylon ; that is, in the 
second year of the reign of 
Darius Hystaspes. He, to- 
gether with Zechariah, might- 
ily excited and encouraged 
their brethren to finish the 
building of the temple, as- 
suring them that the Messiah 
should appear in the flesh, 
teach in the courts of the new 
temple, and render it more 
glorious than the first. Ez- 
ra v. 1, 2. Hag. i. and ii. 

HALLELUJAH, a. He- 
brew word signifying Praise 
the Lord, frequently met with 



in Psalms and Revelations. 

HALE or Haul, to drag 
violently. 

HAM, the son of Noah, 
had four sons, viz. Cush, 
Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. 
His posterity peopled Afri- 
ca, and part of the west of 
Asia. They have been gen- 
erally wicked and miserable, 
and few of them have hith- 
erto enjoyed the light of the 
gospel. From him the land 
of Egypt was called Chemia, 
or the land of Ham. 

HARNESS, properly the 
furniture of a horse, Jere- 
miah xlvi. 4 ; but it means 
more frequently a set of de- 
fensive armour, for a war- 
rior. 1 Kings xxii. 34. 
The children of Israel went 
up out of Egypt harnessed, 
that is, equipped, for battle. 

HARP, an instrument 
composed of a hollow base, 
with two branches, to which 
were fastened three, six, or 
nine strings. That kind inven- 
ted by Jubal, the descendant 
of Cain, and used by the an- 
cients, is now disused. From 
Isaiah's saying that his bow- 
els sounded in mourning as 
a harp, and from other evi- 
dences, it would seem that 



HAR 



60 



HEA 



its sound was grave and 
plaintive. It was capable, 
however, of producing the 
most majestic sounds, suited 
to the high praises of God. 
Solomon's harps were of 
wood. 1 Kings x. 12. Dur- 
ing the captivity in Babylon, 
the Levitical singers hanged 
their harps, as useless, on 
the willow trees on the 
banks of the Euphrates and 
other rivers in Chaldea. Psi. 
cxxxvii. 2. The Greeks and 
Romans had the use of the 
harp from the eastern barba- 
rians. The modern harp is 
one of the noblest of instru- 
ments, and is vastly superior 
in power and accuracy to 
those in ancient use. 

HARVEST, the time of 
gathering the fruits of the 
earth. In Canaan it began 
in March, and was finished 
;tbout the middle of May. 
Any time of gainful labour is 
called harvest", hence a 
sleeper in harvest causeth 
shame to himself and his 
friends. Prov. x. 5. A peo- 
ple ripened by sin for de- 
struction, are likened to a 
harvest ready for the sickle 
of God's vengeance. Isaiah 
xviii. 5. Joel hi. 13. Rev. 
xiv. 15. A remarkable time 
of success of the gospel is 
called harvest. Matt. ix. 86, 
37. John iv. 36, 37. The day 
of judgment is likened to a 
harvest \ then all things shall 
be ripe for a dissolution. 



HEAR, to receive sounds 
by the ear. To hear the 
word of God, means, a mere 
listening, without laying to 
heart, Matt, xiii.19 ; and al- 
so, to yield a willing assent 
in the mind, with a firm pur- 
pose to believe and obey it, 
John viii. 47. God is said to 
hear prayer, when he grants 
our requests. 

HEART. The seat of the 
affections and passions. God 
only knows it, Jer. xvii. 10. 
The Lord Jesus Christ, who 
demonstrated his Godhead 
on many occasions, by 
searching the heart, de- 
clares, that from the heart of 
man proceeds every evil. 
Matt. xv. 18. It is very ob- 
servable, that as the great 
evil which, in the human 
heart, corrupts and defiles it, 
is unbelief; so the only pu- 
rifier of the heart mention- 
ed in the Scripture is, the 
faith of the gospel. Acts 
xv. 9. "With the heart 
man believeth unto righte- 
ousness," because the truth 
concerning Christ, that he 
died for our sins, and rose 
again for our justification, 
gives the answer of a good 
conscience towards God. 

HEATHEN. This term 
was applied by the Jews to 
all who were not Hebrews. 
It is now confined to those 
who worship false gods ; and 
includes all those who are 
not Jews, Mahommedans, or 



HEA 



61 



HEB 



Christians. More than two 
thirds of the human race be- 
long to this class. The coun- 
tries which are yet pagan 
are all that part of Africa 
which lies between the trop- 
ic of Cancer and the Cape of 
Good Hope, the Aborigines 
of North and South Amer- 
ica, China, Burmah, Hin- 
dostan, Tartary, Japan, 
and many islands in the in- 
dian and other oceans. They 
are called Pagans, from the 
Greek word 7rctyri a fountain, 
or rural place, because Chris- 
tianity was first taught and 
planted in cities, while the 
ignorant country people ad- 
hered longer to their old su- 
perstitions. % 

HEAVEN, the habitation 
of God, where his power 
and glory are more immedi- 
ately and fully manifested, 
and where good angels and 
pure departed souls pay 
their continual adoration ; 
the residence or abode of 
the blessed ; the sacred man- 
sion of light, and joy, 
and glory, where the body 
will be revived to a glori- 
ous life, and the soul 
live in constant communion 
with God in Christ. It is 
sometimes used for the re- 
gions above, or that vast ex- 
panse where the stars are 
disposed ; sometimes for the 
common atmosphere or lower 
region of air, where the birds 
fly. Job xxxv. 11. 



HEBREWS; so Abraham 
and his descendants are call- 
ed. Some learned men sup- 
pose the name to be derived 
from Heber, an ancestor of 
Abraham. It is more prob- 
able that they received it from 
their passing over, or coming 
from beyond the river. An 
Hebrew of the Hebrews, is 
one who is descended from 
Hebrew parents, both father 
and mother. Phil. iii. 5. 
Sometimes only those Jews 
were called Hebrews who 
spoke the Hebrew language, 
in contra-distinction to the 
Jews who spoke the Greek. 
Acts vi. 1. 

HEBRON, called Arba, or 
Kirjath-arba, because Arba, 
the noted giant, was king of 
it. It was built on a hill, not 
long after the flood. Num. 
xiii. 22 ; and stood about 22 
miles south of Jerusalem. 
Here Anak and his father 
and sons dwelt; but Caleb, 
receiving it for his inheri- 
tance, expelled these giants, 
and it seems called it Hebron 
after one of his sons. Josh, 
xiv. 13, 14. It was made a 
city of refuge, and given to 
the priests. . Judg. xxi. 13. 
David here reigned seven 
years over Judah, and was- 
crowned to be sole monarch 
of Israel. 2 Sam. ii. 11, 
and v. 3. Here Absalom 
first set up for king. 2 Sam* 
xv. It is now little else than 
a heap of ruins. 



HER 



62 



HER 



HELL, the place of pun- 
ishment for the wicked after 
this life, whither the ven- 
geance of God follows them ; 
in opposition to heaven ; al- 
so the grave or state of the 
dead. By the gates of hell, 
Matt. xvi. 18, is meant the 
power and policy of the dev- 
il and his instruments. 

HELMET, a cap of metal 
or strong leather for protect- 
ing a soldier's head, 1 Sam. 
xvii. 5; salvation is God's 
helmet ; the hope of it ren- 
dering God's people coura- 
geous in their spiritual war- 
fare. Eph. vi. 17. 1 Thes. 
v. 8. 

HERESY, an opinion con- 
trary to the fundamental 
principles of religion, follow- 
ed with obstinacy, and a firm 
refusal of conviction. Chris- 
tianity was called a sect or 
heresy by Tertullus.and the 
profane Jews. Acts xxiv. 5. 

HEROD the Great, the 
son of Antipater and Cypros, 
and brother of Phasael, Jo- 
seph, and Pheroras, and of 
a sister called Salome. His 
father is, by some, said to 
have been a Jew ; by oth- 
ers an Idumean turned Jew ; 
others will have him to have 
been a Heathen, guardian of 
Apollo's temple at Askelon, 
and taken prisoner by the 
Idumean scouts, and after- 
ward a Jewish proselyte. 
Herod was born about sev- 
enty years before our Sa- 



viour. To ingratiate him* 
self with the Jews, he re- 
built their temple, and ren- 
dered it exceedingly stately 
and glorious. When the 
wise men from the east made 
inquiry in Jerusalem for the 
new born king of the Jews, 
he was very greatly troub- 
led, and the principal Jews, 
afraid of new wars, were 
troubled also. Having as- 
certained the place of his 
birth, he resolved to murder 
him, while but an infant; 
and, under pretence of a de- 
sign to worship him, desired 
the wise men to bring him 
back word where and how 
he might know him. An 
angel ordered the wise men 
to go home, without return- 
ing to Herod. Provoked 
with this disappointment, he 
ordered his soldiers to go 
murder every child about 
Bethlehem, or near it, under 
two years old, that he might 
make sure of murdering the 
Messiah among them. 

2. Herod Antipas had 
the kingdom of Judea left 
him in his father's first will ; 
but he altered it, and only 
gave him the tetrarchy of 
Galilee and Perea. He di- 
vorced his wife and took He- 
rodias, the wife of Philip, 
who still lived. For this in- 
cestuous marriage, John the 
Baptist reproved him. On 
that account, he imprisoned 
the Baptist, and killed him. 



HER 



63 



HOM 



3. Herod Agrippa, the 
son of Aristobulus, grandson 
of Herod the Great, and 
brother of Herodias. His 
gfandfather sent him early 
to Rome to make his court 
to Tiberius. This emperor 
never promoted him, — but 
when Caligula came to be 
emperor he liberated Herod, 
gave him a chain of gold, 
and a royal diadem, appoint- 
ing him to the government 
of Abilene. About A. D. 
44, or perhaps 49, he caused 
the murder of James the son 
of Zebedee. Observing the 
Jews pleased with this, he 
apprehended Peter, intend- 
ing to murder him also, for 
their farther gratification ; 
but Providence defeated his 
designs. After the passover 
feast, he repaired to Cesa- 
rea, to celebrate some games 
in honour of Claudius. Thith- 
er the inhabitants of Tyre 
and Sidon who had offended 
him, after making Blastushis 
chamberlain their friend, sent 
their deputies to beg his fa- 
vour. As he gave audience 
to the deputies, he appeared 
dressed in a robe tissued 
with silver, to which the ris- 
ing sun, shining on it, gave 
a marvellous lustre. As he 
spoke to the Phoenician dep- 
uties, some of his parasites 
cried out, It is the voice of 
a god, not of a man. He 
received the impious flattery 
with pleasure. To punish 



him, an angel smote him di- 
rectly with a most torment- 
ing disease in his bowels, 
and he was eaten up of ver- 
min, after he had reigned 
seven or ten years, and been 
the father of Agrippa, Ber- 
nice, Drusilla, and Mariam- 
ne. Acts xii. 

HERODIANS, a sect a- 
mong the Jews, so named, 
from Herod the Great. It 
is thought, by some, he was 
regarded by them as the 
promised Messiah. 

HERMON, a mountain on 
the north-east of the promis- 
ed land, beyond Jordan, a 
little southward of Lebanon. 
The Sidonites called it Sirion, 
and the Amorites Shenir. 
Deut. iii. 9, 10. Sihon was 
one of the tops of it. Deut. 
iv. 48. Mount Hermon was 
the north border of the king- 
dom of Og. There was, 
it seems, a temple on its top 
to the idol Baal. The dew 
that falls on it is copious and 
refreshing. Psl. cxxxiii. 3. 
The snow lies on it most part 
of the summer, and was 
thence carried to Tyre, as ice 
is brought into our cities, 
and sold in the summer. 

HIN, a liquid measure, 
containing about three of our 
pints. It was the sixth part 
of an Ephah. 

HOMER, a Hebrew meas- 
ure of twenty-four bushels, 
thought to be the same as 
the Car. -Isa. v. 10. 



HOP 



64 



HOS 



HOLY, pious, religious, 
Mark vi. 20 ; sacred, divine. 
Luke i. 72 ; hallowed, con- 
secrated to divine use, Matt, 
vii. 6, Luke ii. 23 ; pure, 
free from the pollution of 
sin. Eph. i. 4. Col. i. 22. 
It is applied to the Trinity — 
to the Father, Lev. xix. 2, 
Psl. cxlv. 17; to the Son, 
Psl. xvi. 10, Luke i. 35— iv. 
34, Acts iii. 14 ; and it is the 
common epithet of the third 
person of the glorious Trini- 
ty. The saints are called 
holy, by separation and 
choice, 1 Pet. ii. 9 ; by the 
imputation of Christ's holi- 
ness or righteousness to 
them, Ezek. xvi. 14, 2 Cor. 
v. 11 ; by partaking of a ho- 
ly principle of grace, where- 
by the soul is renewed in 
holiness by degrees, till it 
attain a perfection of it. Heb. 
xii. 23. It is applied to an- 
gels, Matt. xxv. 31 ; to per- 
sons and things dedicated to 
God, Exodus xxx. 35 — xxxi. 
14. 

HONEY. See Wild 
Honey. 

HOPE, a prospect, real or 
imaginary, which we think 
on with pleasure, and are de- 
sirous of obtaining. The 
emotion is also called hope. 
The Christian's hope of eter- 
nal happiness and glory in 
heaven, is founded on the 
merits, the blood, the grace, 
the promises, and spirit of 
Christ, and the unchangea- 



ble truth and almighty pow- 
er of God. 

Divine Hope is distin- 
guished from carnal pre- 
sumption by its inseparable 
effect, a cleansing efficacy 
by the assistance of the Ho- 
ly Spirit. 1 John iii. 3. Je- 
sus Christ is styled the hope 
of Israel, Acts xxviii. 20, as 
he was promised by God, his 
manner of coming foretold 
by the prophets, and the e- 
vent expected by the people 
of Israel. He is called our 
hope, 1 Tim. i. 1, because 
he is the only foundation on 
which to build our hope of 
any* real good here, or of 
heaven hereafter. It is 
sometimes taken for that 
eternal salvation, which is 
the object, or end of our 
hope. 

HORNET, an insect like 
a wasp, with a black breast, 
and double black spots ; it is 
extremely troublesome and 
mischievous; the sting is 
attended with great pain 
and inflammation, and even 
danger of death. Great 
swarms of them plagued the 
Canaanites in the days of 
Joshua. Deut. vii. 20. Josh, 
xxiv. 12. 

HOSPITALITY, love or 
kindness to strangers, ex- 
pressed in entertaining them 
and using them kindly. Rom. 
xii. 13. 1 Tim. iii. 2. The 
first Christians were hospita- 
ble and kind to all strangers, 



HOU 



65 



HOU 



but particularly to those of 
the same faith and commu- 
nion; and St. Paul makes 
use of Abraham's and Lot's 
conduct, mentioned Gen. 
xviii. 2, 3— xix. 1, 2, &c. 
as examples to encourage 
and persuade them to the 
exercise of hospitality, Heb. 
xiii, 2. Hospitality is recom- 
mended to the faithful, to be 
used one to another without 
grudging. 1 Pet. iv. 9. 

HOUSE. 1. A dwelling 
place, so the body is called, 
2 Cor. v. 1. the house of the 
soul. The houses in Canaan 
and other eastern countries, 
are built in the form of a 
hollow square. The rooms 
open into the court in the 
centre, where some have 
fountains of water playing. 
The roof is flat ; and when 
the sun is nothot, is a place of 
agreeable retirement. Peter 
had his vision here. Act. x. 
9. An awning is frequent- 
ly extended over the open 
space in the centre, to ex- 
clude the sun. This was 
broken up, or lifted away, by 
the friends of the man sick 
of the palsy, whom they had 
brought across the roofs of 
the neighbouring houses, so 
that they could lower him 
down before Christ. Mark ii. 
3. Luke v. 19. When the de- 
struction of Jerusalem came, 
the disciples of Jesus were 
to escape from the roofs, if 
they should be there, with- 



out going down into the house . 
This in American houses, 
would be impossible ; but 
there they would come down 
the stairs, and pass through 
the balconies which led round 
inside the rooms, and so out 
into the street, through the 
covered gateway. Mark xiii. 
15. 2. The family-house- 
hold, or tribe, dwelling to- 
gether. Children do not 
necessarily form part of a 
household, as many families 
do not have any. Act xvi. 
15. 

HOUR. 1. The twen- 
ty-fourth part of a natural 
day, being the common 
method of measuring time. 
According to the New Tes- 
tament, the Jews divided 
their day into twelve equal 
parts, after the manner of 
the Greeks -and Romans, 
Matt. xx. 1, 2, 3, &c. John 
xi. 9, but which varied in 
length according to the dif- 
ferent seasons. When the 
sun rose at the time we call 
6 o'clock, it was their first 
hour, so that their 3d hour 
agreed with our 9th, their 
6th with our noon, and their 
9th with our 3 o'clock. Their 
night was divided in the 
same manner. 2. Hour, 
also signifies any fixed season 
or opportunity, and especial- 
ly what is short ; hence 
we read of the hour of 
temptation, of judgment, of 
Christ's death or second 



ICO 



66 



ILL 



coming, of the power of Sa- 
tan and his agents against 
Christ. Rev. iii. 3, 10. xiv. 
¥ . John viii. 20. Luke xxii. 
53. 

HUMILITY, that grace 
of the Spirit, which, from a 
proper sense of lowliness and 
unworthiness, makes us pa- 
tient under trials, and con- 
tentedly submissive to the 
will of Providence. 

HUMILIATION, the act 
of humbling one's self. It 
differs from humility. Hu- 
mility is the state of that 
person's mind who has low 
thoughts of himself, founded 
upon the knowledge of his 
own imperfections and un- 
worthiness, and his depen- 
dence upon God. Humilia- 
tion is that state of mind ex- 
ercised under trying cir- 
cumstances. It signifies any 
solemn act of devotional mor- 
tification, or external ex- 
pression of conscious guilt 
and unworthiness, in an in- 
dividual or a nation, shewn 
by fasting, prayer, &c. 

HYENNA. This animal 



so common in the east, is 
mentioned but twice in the 
Sacred Scriptures. 1 Sam. 
xiii. 18. Jer. xii. 9. And in 
neither of these places is the 
word Oith, so rendered iir 
our translation. It is the 
size of a large dog, striped in 
its colour, wild, sullen, fero- 
cious, and going in compa- 
nies. It feeds on poultry, 
offall, dead bodies, &.c. 

HYSSOP. An herb, 
which grows not only in 
gardens at the east, but 
wild. It rises to the height 
of two or three feet. It has 
a pleasant smell, but is very 
bitter. When it is said, 1 
Kings iv. 3, that " Solomon 
described plants from the 
greatest cedar to the hyssop 
that springeth out of the 
wall," moss and not hyssop 
is the plant intended. Hys- 
sop does not grow on walls, 
and is not among the small- 
est of plants. The thin dry 
moss that grows on a stone- 
wall or fence, is most proba- 
bly meant. 



I. 



ICONIUM, the chief city 
of the fourteen, belonging 
to the tetrarchy of Lycao- 
nia, and stands in a fertile 
plain, near the lake Trogilis. 
About A. D. 45, Paul and 



Barnabas preached the gos- 
pel here ; and it is said, the 
famous Thecla was convert- 
ed. It is now called Cogni. 
ILLYRICUM,now called 
Albania,) is about 480 miles 



INS 



67 



IVO 



in length, and 120 in breadth. 
It has Austria and part of 
Hungary on the north, My- 
sia or Servia on the east, 
and the Adriatic sea and part 
of Macedonia, on the south. 
Here the gospel was preach- 
ed and a Christian church 
planted by Paul. The Cen- 
turiators of Magdeburgh 
trace their bishops through 
eight centuries ; and to this 
day there are not a few in it 
who have the name of Chris- 
tians. Rom. xv. 19. They 
are under four archbishops, 
and twenty bishops. 

INCENSE, a fragrant 
gum, obtained from the frank- 
incense-tree. The incense 
used in the Jewish offerings, 
at least that which was burnt 
on the altar of incense and 
before the. ark, was a pre- 
cious mixture of sweet spi- 
ces, stacte, onycha, galban- 
tim, and pure frankincense, 
beaten very small. None 
but. priests were to burn it, 
nor was any, under pain of 
death, to make any like to it. 
This incense was burnt twice 
a-day on the golden altar. 

INSCRIPTION, or Su- 
perscription, writing on 
coins, pillars, &c. Much of 
the history of nations may 
be learnt from them. Matt, 
xxii. 20. The history of 
Greece for 1318 years, is in- 
scribed on the Arundelian 
marbles. Parts of the law 
of Moses were inscribed on 



the altar at Ebal. Dent 
xxvii. 8. 

INTERCESSION, the 

act of coming in between 
two parties, in order to plead 
in behalf of the one that has 
offended. Christ intercedes 
for his church, by appearing 
for it before the Father, by 
presenting the merits of his 
sacrifice once offered, and 
obtaining answers to petitions 
or prayers made in his name. 

ISSUE, an effect or result 
arising from some cause ; it 
is applied to children, who 
from the relation which they 
bear to their parents, are 
called issue or offspring ; and 
to a running sore in the flesh, 
sometimes arising from a 
small artificial incision. 

IVORY, is the tusks of 
elephants, resembling horns, 
Ezek. xxvii. 15. Some tusks 
are from 90 to 125 pounds 
weight; and one found in 
the isle of Sumatra in the 
East Indies, is said to have 
been 330 pounds. It is said 
the ivory of Ceylon and 
Achem does not become yel- 
low by wearing. In Russia, 
and'other places of Europe, 
a kind of ivory is found bu- 
ried in the ground ; and at 
Petersburgh is a tusk ot^tSO 
pounds weight ; but whether 
these be real teeth of ele- 
phants, long ago there dropt, 
or horns of fishes brought 
thither at the flood, or a kind 
of substance formed in the 



JAM 



68 



JER 



earth, we cannot determine. I prevent the damage of moths, 



Ivory was anciently very 
plentiful in Canaan, ward- 
robes were boxed with it, to 



Psal. xlv. 8. Solomon had 
a throne of it. 1 Kings x. 
18, 22. 



J. 



JACINTH, The same as 
Hyacinth. A precious stone. 

JAMES the Great, or El- 
der, and JOHN the Evan- 
gelist, sons of Zebedee and 
Salome, were originally 
fishers of Bethsaida in Gali- 
lee, Matt. iv. 21. They were 
called Boanerges, or the sons 
of thunder. Luke ix. 54. Af- 
ter our Saviour's resur- 
rection, it seems they for a 
while, returned to their busi- 
ness of fishing, John xxi. 2, 
3. * About A. D. 44, James 
was taken and murdered by 
Herod. Acts xii. 1, and is 
now the pretended patron of 
Spain. 

2. James the Less, call- 
ed the brother of our Lord. 
He was the son of Cleophas, 
by Mary, the sister of the 
blessed Virgin. For the ad- 
mirable holiness of his life, 
he was sirnamed the Just. 
Our Saviour appeared to him 
by himself, after his resur- 
rection. 1 Cor. xv. 7. About 
three years after Paul's con- 
version, he was at Jerusa- 



lem, and considered as a pil- 
lar or noted supporter of the 
church there. Gal. i. 19. 

JANNES and JAMBRES, 
The leading magicians of the 
company who counterfeited 
the miracles of Moses before 
Pharaoh. 2 Tim. iii. 8. 

JASPER, a precious stone 
of various colours, white, red, 
brown, and bluish green. It 
is somewhat like the finer 
marble, or the half transpa- 
rent gems. It strikes fire 
with steel ; but makes no 
effervescence in aquafortis. 
It is found in the Indies, in 
Persia, Syria, Armenia, Bo- 
hemia, &c. 

JEPTHAH, the tenth 
judge of Israel ; who in con- 
sequence of an extraordinary 
vow, sacrificed his daughter. 
Judg. xi. In his day, Troy 
was burnt by the Greeks, 
that is, about 2800 years af- 
ter the creation. 

JER.'JHO, a city of the 
Benjamites, nineteen miles 
east from Jerusalem. Josh, 
xvi. 1, 7. The road to it 



JER 



JEW 



was through a rocky desert, 
and was infested with rob- 
bers. Luke x. 30. The 
plain on which it stood was 
extremely fertile, noted for 
palm-trees, and for the best 
of halm. Its present name 
is Erika. 

JERUSALEM stood 42 
miles east of the Mediterra- 
nean. The name signifies 
the vision of peace. It was 
the capital city of Judea, and 
was first called Salem, 
where Melchizedeck was 
king, Gen xiv. 18, and who, 
as some suppose, built it. It 
was called Jebus by the Je- 
busites, who possessed it and 
held the castle of Sion, till 
David dislodged them, and 
took the place. 1 Chron. xi. 
4, 5, 7. Here Solomon built 
the famous temple on Mount 
Moriah, near Mount Sion, 
where Abraham was com- 
manded to offer his son Isaac. 

Every male Jew was com- 
manded to go to Jerusalem 
thrice a year to worship. It 
was a city often plundered 
by armies, and several times 
burnt. I Kings, xiv. 2 
Chron. xxv. After Nebu- 
chadnezzar destroyed it, 2 
Chron. xxxvi. it laid in ruins 
130 years, when it was re- 
built by Nehemiah. Many 
years afterward it was again 
destroyed by Ptolemy : af- 
terward, it suffered the same 
fate from Antiochus Epipha- 
nes, who killed 40,000 of the 
G 



inhabitants, and . sold for 
slaves as many more. It 
was rebuilt by Judas Mac- 
cabeus, and was somewhat 
flourishing in the time of our 
Saviour. About A. D. 70, 
after a dreadful siege of two 
years, during which the in- 
habitants suffered so much 
from famine, as to eat, in 
some instances the corpses 
of their friends, it was taken 
by Titus Vespasian ; and 
our Saviour's prediction that 
it should become a heap of 
ruins, was fully verified. It 
gradually became settled by 
Christians again, when in 
the year 614, the Persians 
captured it, and 90,000 Chris- 
tians were slain. In A. D. 
637, the Saracens siezed it, 
and kept it till A. D. 1079, 
when the Saljukian Turks 
became its masters. Soon 
afterwards the Crusades 
were begun, and continued 
from time to time, for a cen- 
tury, when the Ottoman 
Turks became its possessors, 
and they remain so to this 
day. Its present population 
is about 20,000 : One fourth 
of which are Jews. Chris- 
tian Missionaries from this 
country have of late years 
made known on this sacred 
spot, the glorious grace of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 

JEW, a descendant of Ja- 
cob, or professor of the He- 
brew faith, Col. iii. 11. The 
Jews have now no country 



JEW 



70 



JOR 



of their own, but are found 
in most parts of the earth, 
though every where a de- 
graded people, and oppress- 
ed either by custom or law. 
It is computed that their 
number now amounts to 3 
or 4 millions. About one 
million are in the Turkish 
Empire. In Europe they 
are numerous, especially in 
Poland, where there are 
{300,000, viz. 

Gallacia, 90,000. 

Prussian Poland, 110,000. 

Russian Poland, 300,000. 
The Russian Polish Jews 
reside chiefly in the follow- 
ing places, Wilna, Kanen, 
Grodno, Pinck, Mohilow, 
and Bizesk, where there is a 
famous Jewish University. 
The Austrian Polish Jews 
reside in Leonburg, Brody, 
Lublin, Cracow, and Tarnow. 
The Prussian Polish Jews 
reside chiefly in "Warsaw, 
Thorn, Paren, Lissa, Kalish, 
Rawitz, Petrikan, and Ri- 
elsh. 

As to the rest of Europe, 
there are in Hungary, chief- 
ly at Presburgh, Newratz, 
and Miskolz, 76,000 In Ger- 
many, chiefly at Frankfort on 
the Main, Prague, Furth and 
Berlin, 200,000. In Hol- 
land, 20,000. In England 
14,000. In France 50,000. 

They are also numerous 
in the Barhary States, and 
the Levant. In the United 
States there are not more 



than 2 or 3 thousand. Most 
Jews are traders, and bro- 
kers ; few if any choose to 
cultivate the soil. The an- 
cient distinction of tribes 
seems now wholly lost. 

JOHN, brother of James, 
was of a very mild and af- 
fectionate disposition, but 
bold in preaching, see James. 
John was the Saviour's be- 
loved disciple, and younger 
than the rest. After suffer- 
ing many sorrows for his 
religion, under the Emperor 
Domitian, he was banished 
A. D. 95, to Patmos, where 
he wrote the Revelations. 
When Nerva became Em- 
peror, he was recalled, and 
lived to write his Gospel, 
and some Epistles. He died 
at Ephesus, at about the age 
of one hundred. 

JOPPA, a seaport of Pales* 
line of very ancient date. 
Its name is thought to have 
been derived from Japhet, 
son of Noah, who founded it. 
It was famous among the 
heathen for the fable of An- 
dromeda and Perseus. It is 
now called Joffa, and is 
nothing more than a ruin- 
ous village of fishermen. 2 
Chron. ii. 16. Acts x. 5. 

JORDAN, a river which 
takes its rise in Mount Leb- 
anon, about 12 miles north 
of Cesarea-Philippi. After 
it has run about 12 miles 
more to the south, it receives 
a more considerable branch, 



JOR 



71 



J.UD 



which, under ground, pro- 
ceeds from the lake Phiala. 
About 15 miles further south, 
it forms the waters of Merom, 
or lake of Samechon, both 
names signifying the higher 
lake, which is near 4 miles 
broad, and seven and an half 
long. After running about 
28 miles farther south, it 
forms the lake of Genesareth, 
which is about 13 miles in 
length, and .5 in breadth. 
From thence, it runs south- 
ward through a long valley, 
whose air is unwholesome, 
and most of it desert, till it 
loses itself in the Dead Sea. 
Its whole course, is about 
160 miles. It once over- 
flowed its banks in March 
or April, by means of the 
melting of the snow on Leba- 
non and Hermon; but from 
the conjunct testimony of 
Maundrel and Thomson, it 
seems it does not now to any 
degree. Perhaps the reason 
is, that its channel is now 
sunk so deep. Before it en- 
ters the Dead Sea, its ordi- 
nary current is but 30 yards 
in breadth, according to 
Shaw, and no more than 25, 
according to Thomson; but 
is exceedingly deep, even at 
the edge of its inner bank. 
It has an outer bank, 
about a furlong distant from 
the other; such it seems 
was its width when it was 
swelled. The banks of a 
great part of it are so cover- 



ed with thickets, that in 
many places one cannot see 
it till at the very brink of it ; 
and in these thickets lions 
were wont to lodge, but were 
driven thence by the over- 
flowing of the river; at which 
season they wandered about, 
and were dangerous to such 
as dwelt near. Jer. xlix. 19. 
The deep stream of Jordan 
was divided under Joshua, 
and by Elijah and Elisha. 
In it John baptized multi- 
tudes, and our Saviour a- 
mong them. Joshua iii. 2 
Kings ii. Matt. iii. Mark i. 

JOTHAM, a king of Ju- 
dah, successor to Uzziah. 
He reigned 16 years, during 
the latter part of which Rome 
was founded. 

JOY. An agreeable affec- 
tion of the soul, arising from 
the hope or possession of 
some benefit. Religious joy 
is the delight and satisfaction 
of the soul in its union 
with God in Christ, as the 
greatest and highest good. 
It also signifies that joyful 
and glorious state unto which 
Christ himself attained after 
his sufferings, and which he 
will communicate to all who 
believe in him. 

JUDAS, called Iscariot, 
probably from Ish-cariotta, 
the man who has the bag. 
There is no reason to suppose 
his appearance of piety was 
ever to human eye, less than 
that of the other disciples. 



JUD 



72 



JUD 



After his dreadful apostasy, 
he hung himself in despair, 
but the cord breaking or the 
limb of the tree, he fell and 
burst open, and died a misera- 
ble death. 

JUDAS or JUDE, the 
same as Thaddeus Libbe- 
us, brother of James the less. 
Matt. x. 3. He was one 
of the 12 Apostles. He wrote 
an Epistle, which bears his 
name, and is intended chiefly 
to guard believers against 
false teachers. 

JUDEA, or Jewry. The 
country of Judah was never 
«6 called till after the captiv- 
ity. Sometimes the whole 
fand of Canaan seems to have 
ieen called Judea, Matt. 
xxiv. 16. Gal. i. 21; but 
more properly it was divided 
into Galilee, Samaria, and 
Judea, on the west of Jordan. 
Judea, thus taken, contained 
■ he original portions of the 
tribes of Judah, Benjamin, 
Dan, and Simeon. It con- 
sisted of three parts ; the 
plain country on the west; 
the hill-country southward 
of Jerusalem ; and the 
south, toward the borders 
of the land of Edom. Matt, 
in. 1. Acts ii. 9. 

JUDGES. 1. Officers ap- 
pointed to hear and decide 
points of law and justice.. The 
Jews had three courts, (1,) 
a court of three petty judges, 
who decided small cases ; 
(2.) a court of 23, whose 



power in some cases extend- 
ed to life and death ; (3.) the 
great Sanhedrim, which de- 
termined all the highest 
cases, and was the last ap- 
peal. It consisted of 70 
judges, of which the High 
Priest was president. Each 
court had cognizance of 
both civil and ecclesiastical 
cases. 

2. The extraordinary men 
raised up by Jehovah, to de- 
liver Israel from oppression? 
before they had aking. When 
the nation sinned, it was pun- 
ished by anarchy, invasion,, 
or conquest, but when it 
had been duly chastised and 
humbled, a deliverer . was 
found. The following is a 
list of the Judges in their 
order, with the length of 
their administration, and the 
times of the intervening op- 
pression. 



Othmiel, 40 

served Moab, 18 
Ehud, 80 

served Philistia, 1 
Sham gar, 1 

served Canaan, 20 
Deborah & Barak, 40 

served Midian, 7 
Gideon, 40 

Abimelech, 3 

Tola, 23 

Jair, 22 

served Ammon, 18 
Jepthah, 6 

Ibzan, 7 

Elem, 10 



years, 



JUP 



73 



JUS 



Abdon, 8 yrs. 

served Philistia, *> 4ft 
Sampson last, 10 ) " 

Eli, 40 „ 

served Philistia, 20 „ 

Samuel, 12 „ 

456 yrs. 
The Apostle Paul says, Acts 
xiii. 20, that the period dur- 
ing which Israel was govern- 
ed by judges, was " about 
450 years." 

JUDGMENT, that facul- 
ty of the soul, by which it 
perceives the relation be- 
tween two or more ideas, 
discerns right from wrong ; 
the solemn action and trial 
at the great and last day, 
Eccles. xii. 14. Jude 6, 
the sentence or decision 
of a judge ; 1 Kings iii. 
20; the remarkable punish- 
ments of God. Prov. xix. 
20; afflictions and chastise- 
ments for trial and profitable 
instructions, 1 Pet. iv. 17 ; 
sentiment or opinion, 1 Cor. 
i. ; advice, 1 Cor. vii. 25 ;, 
the Gospel, or kingdom of 
grace, Matt. xii. 20; also 
the skill, knowledge, or un- 
derstanding which a person 
has attained in any art, 
science, or business. 

JUNIPER, an evergreen, 
not unlike the cedar, and 
sometimes called by that 
name. 

JUPITER, the principal 
deity of Heathens. Perhaps 
the name is derived from 
Ja or Jehovah, and pater, 



father. There were many 
Jupiters. Three, were prin- 
cipally famous, the son of JE- 
ther, the son of Coelus, but 
chiefly the son of Saturn. His- 
torians discover that he was 
son to a king of Crete, who 
lived about the time of Moses, 
and was one of most wicked 
wretches that ever breathed. 
The Heathens, however, 
whose theology was chiefly 
derived from the fictions of 
their poets, believed he had 
the government of heaven 
and earth ; and that under 
him, Neptune ruled the sea, 
and Pluto was king of hell. 
The noble port of Barnabas, 
and his miracles, made the 
citizens of Lystra imagine 
that Jupiter had visited them. 
Acts xiv. 11. 

JUSTIFY, to clear a per- 
son from the charge of guilt ; 
to make his innocence ap- 
pear ; to acquit a sinner from 
the guilt or punishment of 
sin, by pardon through the 
imputation of Christ's righte- 
ousness. Rom. iii. 28, and v. 
9. As justification is by 
righteousness imputed, so 
sanctification is by righteous- 
ness imparted to the soul of 
the believer. Man cannot 
be justified legally, Rom. iii. 
20. Gal. ii. 16, but evangeli- 
cally, Rom. v. 1 ; and this is 
said to be by grace freely, 
Rom. iii. 24. fit. iii. 7; by 
faith, Gal. iii. 8 ; by Christ, 
Gal. ii. 16 ; by his blood, 
Rom. v. 9. 



KIN 



74 



KIN 



K. 



KAB, a measure of about 
96 solid inches, which is 
somewhat more than three 
pints and a half English wine 
measure. 2 Kings vi. 25. 

KADESH, Kedesh, or 
Kadesh-barjvea, a place 
on the south of Canaan, 
about 24 miles south from 
Hebron, and on the edge of 
the wilderness of Paran. It 
was anciently called En- 
michpat, because there the 
Canaanites had judged their 
people near to a well, Gen. 
xiv. 7. Perhaps it was call- 
ed Rithmah, from the juni- 
pers, or turpentine trees, or 
other shrubs, that grew 
near to it. Numb, xxxiii. 
18. xii. 16. xiii. 1. xxxii. 8. 

KEDAR, a son of Ishmael, 
and father of the Kedarenes, 
who resided about the south 
parts of Arabia the Desert, 
^ordinarily in tents, but some- 
times in villages, and whose 
glory and wealth chiefly con- 
sisted in their flocks and 
herds. Song i. 5. Isa. xlii. 
11. xxi. 16. 

KING, the sovereign of a 
nation. His power is in 
some countries limited by 
law, and a senate or parlia- 
ment, and in others is abso- 



lute. The Lord himself was 
Israel's king, until they be- 
came discontent, and Saul 
was given to be their ruler. 
The following is a table 
of the kings of the Hebrews, 
both before and after their 
division into the govern- 
ments of Judah and Israel. 
Saul reigned 40 years. 

David „ 40 „ 

Solomon „ 40 



Rehoboam „ 


1 


a 


Kings of 


Judah. 




Rehoboam reigned 17 y 


ears. 


Abijam „ 


3 


yy 


Asa „ 


41 


>» 


Jehosophat „ 


27 


a 


Jehoram „ 


8 


5» 


Ahaziah „ 


1 


>> 


Athaliah „ 


6 


99 


Jehoash „ 


40 


JJ 


Amaziah ,, 


29 


J> 


Uzziah ,j 


52 


}> 


Jotham „ 


16 


5> 


Ahaz „ 


16 


» 


Hezekiah „ 


29 


S> 


Manasseh , 3 


55 


J> 


Ammon „ 


2 


» 


Josiah ,, 


31 


99 


Jehoiakim „ 


11 


5» 


Jehoiakin „ 


3 months 


Zedekiah „ 


11 years. 



Kings of Israely 
Jeroboam reigned 22 years. 
Nadab „ 2 „ 



LAM 



75 



LAO 



Baasha 


reigned 24 years. 


Elah 




„ 2 „ 


Zimri 




„ 7 days. 


Ornri- 




„ 6 years. 


Ahab 




„ 22 „ 


Ahaziah 




n 1 » 


Joram 




„ 12 „ 


Jehu 
Jehoahaz 




„ 28 „ 
» 17 „ 


Jehoash 




» 41 „ 


Jeroboam, 


II. 


n 41 „ 


Zechariah 




„ 6 months 


Shallum 




1 do. 


Menahim 




„ 10 years. 


Pekaiah 




„ 2 „ 


Pekah 




» 20 „ 


Hosea, carrier 


i captive. 


KOHATH, 


the second son 



of Levi, and father of Am- 
ram, Izhar, Hebron, and 
Uzziel. From him, by 
Aaron the son of Amram, 
sprung the Hebrew priests. 
The rest of his family, were 
called Levites, and at their 
departure from Egypt, were 
8600 males, 2750 of which 
were fitfor service. Their bu- 
siness was, to carry on their 
shoulders the ark, and other 
sacred utensils of the taber- 
nacle ; but were not, under 
pain of death, allowed to look 
at any of these, except the 
brazen laver, Exod. vi. 16 — 
25. Numb. hi. 4. x. 21. 



L. 



LAMP. The Lamps of 
the ancients were of very* 
various kinds. Those used 
at wedding processions, con- 
sist of " pieces of old linen, 
squeezed hard against one 
another in a round figure, 
and forcibly thrust down into 
a mould of copper." Those 
who hold them, have in the 
other hand a pitcher, with 
a narrow neck and stopper, 
full of oil, of which they 
pour from time to time on 
the linen. This explains 
Christ's declaration that he 
will tl not quench the smok- 



ing flax." And shows why 
the foolish virgins needed 
" oil in their vessels," as 
well as some other passages. 
LAODICEA, now called 
Ladikey, stands near Mt. 
Lebanus. It was anciently 
called Jupiter's city, and 
then Rhoas; but Seleucus, 
or perhaps Antiochus, the 
Syro-Grecian king, rebuilt 
it, and called it Laodicea, 
after his wife. It was de- 
stroyed by an earthquake, in 
the 10th year of Nero, but 
soon rose from its ruins. A 
Christian church was early 



LAZ 



76 



LEN 



planted in this place. It is 
now utterly desolate and un- 
inhabited. 

LAVER, a vessel for wash- 
ing. The Mosaic laver was 
made of the fine brazen look- 
ing-glasses, which the He- 
brew women brought to him 
for the service of the tab- 
ernacle. This laver held 
water for the priests to wash 
their hands and feet with, 
having cocks, by which the 
water ran into basons. 

LAW, a rule directing and 
obliging a rational creature 
in moral and religious ac- 
tions ; — the whole doctrine 
of the word delivered by 
God to his church, contain- 
ed in the Old and New Tes- 
tament; the principles of 
reason, or the law of nature 
written on a man's heart. 
Rom. ii. 14. It is used to sig- 
nify, — the decalogue or ten 
commandments, Rom. ii. 25. 
vii. 7 ; the precepts of God ; 
in regard to the Jewish cere- 
monial ; and the doctrine of 
the gospel. Rom. iii. 27. 

LAZARUS. 1. The broth- 
er of Martha, who was raised 
from the dead by his Lord, 
John xi. 2. A character 
drawn by the Saviour, in his 
parable of the rich and poor 
man. Luke xvi. Hence 
beggars are now called in 
Europe, LazaronL A re- 
ceptacle for the sick, is call- 
ed for the same reason, a La- 
zaretto, or Lazarhouse. 



LEAVEN, a piece of 
dough, set apart to ferment 
or rise, and used to make 
bread light. To which are 
compared the doctrines of the 
Gospel, Matt xiii. 33, on ac- 
count of the silent yet pow- 
erful extension they make 
in the world. It is also ap- 
plied to erroneous doctrines 
and vicious practices, as of 
the Pharisees and Sadducees. 
Matt. xvi. 6, 12. 

LEASING, falsehoods, 
lies. Psal. iv. 2. v. 6. 

LEBANON, a famous 
range of mountains in the 
north of Canaan. At the top 
grew cedars, and at the base 
excellent vines. From 
hence, Solomon's workman 
" brought great stones, cost- 
ly stones, and hewed stones, 
to lay the foundation of the 
house." 1 Kings v. 15 — 18, 
Mines of iron and copper are 
worked here, Deut. viii. 9. 
The highest summits are al- 
ways covered with snow, 
from which descends in sum- 
mer, sweet and refreshing 
rivulets on every side. A 
spur of this mountain next 
the holy land, is called Her- 
mon. Another spur to the 
eastward, is Mount Gilead, 
where Laban overtook Ja- 
cob. Gen. xxxi. 48. 

LENTILES, a kind of 
grain, like vetches or pease, 
of which was made a coarse 
kind of food, used by mourn- 
ers. Gen. xxv. 34. 



LEV 



77 



LIG 



LEPROSY, one of the 
most calamitous of all dis- 
eases, but not often found in 
cold countries. It is not now 
very common any where, 
but is found among the 
Arabs, and generally over 
the East. It is fully describ- 
ed bv Moses. 

LET, is expressive, 1. Of 
command, Deut. v. 12. 2. 
Ofintreaty, 2 Sam. xiii. 6. 
3. Of permission, Gen. xlix. 
21. 4. Of intrusting, or as- 
signing by tack or lease, 
Song viii. 11. To let, also 
signifies to hinder, keep 
back, Isa. xliii. 13. 2 Thess. 
ii. 7. 

LEVIATHAN; most prob- 
ably the animal meant by 
this name is the crocodile, 
which is a creature every 
way terrible, growing often 
to the length of 30 feet. 
They are shaped like the 
lizard, and lay their eggs in 
the sand to be hatched by the 
sun. By the kind provi- 
dence of God, the Ichneumon 
is fond of these eggs, and 
discovers and destroys great 
quantities of them. Were it 
not for this they would dread- 
fully increase. 

LEVITE, one of the tribe 
of Levi ; an inferior minis- 
ter in the Jewish temple, by 
which title he is distinguish- 
ed from the priest, who, 
though likewise of the race 
of Levi, yet was descended 
from Aaron, whose posterity 
H 



were employed in the higher 
offices. 

LIBERTY, the power to 
do, or forbear to do ; free- 
dom, as opposed to slavery, 
or to necessity ; deliverance 
from any bondage ; freedom 
from the veil of ignorance 
and spiritual blindness, from 
the curse and yoke ot the 
law, and from the slavery of 
sin ; a power or freedom in 
using things indifferent. 1 
Cor. viii. 9. 

LIBYA, a part of Africa, 
bordering on Egypt, famous 
for its armed chariots and 
horses, 2 Chron. xvi. 8. 

LIGHT, that pure bright- 
ness which is every where 
diffused by the rays of the 
sun, and is the medium of 
vision. That divine and sav- 
ing knowledge contained in 
the gospel. Matt. iv. 16. It is 
spoken of God, who is a being 
of infinite wisdom, truth, ho- 
liness, purity, &c. 1 John i. 
5 ; of Jesus Christ, who is 
the fountain and author of 
of all knowledge, both natur- 
al and spiritual, Luke ii. 32. 
John i. 9 ; of the word of 
God, which conducts and 
guides Christians in this 
world, and points out the 
way to eternal happiness, 
Psalm cxix. 105. 2 Peter i. 
19 ; of the apostles or minis- 
ters of the gospel, who as- 
sist others, and direct them 
to Christ and salvation, Matt, 
v. 14; of true Christians, 



LOT 



78 



LYD 



who are enlightened by the 
Holy Spirit, and brought to 
the saving knowledge of 
God and Christ, Luke xvi. 
8. Eph. v. 8. 

LIGURE, a precious 
stone ; but of what exact 
kind it is now difficult to as- 
certain. It was the first in 
the third row of the high 
priest's breast place, and had 
the name of Gad inscribed 
on it, Exodus xxviii. 19. 

LOCUSTS are of divers 
kinds. When they come, it 
is generally in vast numbers, 
creating extensive desola- 
tion. The great green lo- 
custs, common in the east, 
are nearly two inches long, 
and about the thickness of a 
man's finger. 

LOT, the son of Haran, 
and nephew of Abraham, 
and, as we suppose, brother 
of Sarah. After the death 
of his father, he lived and 
travelled with Abraham. 

Lot, any thing cast or 
drawn in order to determine 
a point in debate. It is a 
solemn appeal to God, for an 
immediate interposal of his 
directive power, for deter- 
mining the affair; and, on 
that account, ought to be 
used in nothing but what is 
important, and cannot other- 
wise be peacefully determin- 
ed in ; and it is to be used 
with reverence and prayer, 
Prov. xvi. 33. xviii. 18. Acts 
i. 24, 25, 26. 1 Sam. xiv. 41. 



LOVE, a natural affection 
of the mind, inclining us to 
esteem, or delight in an ob- 
ject ; a gracious principle or 
habit, wrought in the soul 
by God, which inclines us 
to obey him, to seek com- 
munion with him, and to 
study to promote his glory., 
and disposes us to do good to 
all. 

LOW, not rising far up- 
wards, Ezek. xvii. 6, 24 ; not 
elevated in situation, Isa. 
xxxii. 19 ; not high in rank, 
Job v. 11. Luke i. 48, 52; 
humble, not proud, Ezek. 
xxi. 26. Lower parts of 
the earth, iu Isa. xliv. 23, 
signify the valleys ; in Psalm 
Ixiii. 9. Eph. iv. 9, the 
grave, or the state of the 
dead. 

LUKE was a native of 
Antioch in Syria, and a phy- 
sician. He wrote not only 
the gospel which is called by 
his name, but the Acts of 
the Apostles. His language 
is exceedingly pure and 
classical. 

LYCAONIA, now called 
Caramania, has Cappadocia, 
on the east, Galatia on the 
north, Phrygia on the west, 
and Pisidia on the south. 
A remarkable Lake exists 
inthisprovince,called Tatta, 
and by the moderns Tuzla, 
which yields salt. Its chief 
cities were Iconium (now 
called Cogni,) Derbe and 
Lystra. 



MAC 



79 



MAN 



LYDDA, a large village 
or city, not far fron) Joppa, 
Acts ix. 38, eminent for its 
schools cf learned Jews. 
It was burnt by Cestius, 
while its males were gone to 



Jerusalem to the feast of 
tabernacles, God after the 
crucifixion not taking the 
care of them at these times 
as formerly. It is now call- 
ed Diospolis. 



M. 



MACEDONIA, a large 
country north east of 
Greece, peopled by the 
descendants of Javan, and 
formerly called Emathia. 
It was bounded by the 
mountains of Haemus, on 
the north, the * ^Egean sea 
on the east, Achaia on the 
south, and the Adriatic sea 
on the west. Its metropolis 
was Thessalonica. The fa- 
mous Mount Olympus is in 
this country. It was a fa- 
mous monarchy under Phil- 
lip, and Alexander the great, 
who conquered Greece, Per- 
sia, and part of Judea. A- 
bout A. M. 3856, it became 
a part of the great Roman 
Empire, and continued sub- 
ject to the Romans 1600 
years, when the Ottoman 
Turks conquered it, who are 
now its masters. Paul plant- 
ed the gospel here, and the 
Christians contributed very 
generously to their suffering 



! brethren at Jerusalem, Acts 
16. Christianity has never 
wholly been eradicated from 
Macedonia, though the Turks 
are cruel masters. 

MALLOWS, a plant, very 
useful in medicine, growing 
to about the size of Indian 
corn. 

MAMMON, a Syriac word, 
signifying riches or treasure. 
No man can serve God and 
mammon ; none can, at the 
same time, love and serve 
God with his heart, while 
his great aim and desire is 
to heap up, enjoy, and re- 
tain worldly wealth, Matt, 
vi. 24. 

MAN. The Hebrew word 
for man is Enosh ; that is, 
wretched ; to denote his con- 
dition in his apostasy from 
God. The natural man, 1 
Cor. ii. 14, means one that is 
unrenewed, and has no prin- 
ciple of grace in the heart. 
The inward man, Rom. vii. 



MAN 



80 



MAR 



22, is the regenerate part 
within, or the principle of 
grace in the heart. The 
man of God, 2 Tim. Hi. 17, 
is one that is guided by the 
Spirit of God, and in a spe- 
cial manner, devoted to his 
service. 

MANDRAKE, a species 
of melon or berry. The 
smell and taste are pleasant, 
but it stupifies or intoxicates 
if eaten to excess. It is cul- 
tivated in the East for the 
sake of its fragrance. 

MANNA, the delicious 
food with which God fed the 
children of Israel" in the wil- 
derness. It was a little grain, 
white like hoar frost, which 
fell every morning, except 
on the Sabbath, about the 
camp of the Israelites, Exod. 
xvi. 15. Christ is the hidden 
Manna, the Bread of eternal 
life, which those eat who 
partake of the blessings and 
comforts which flow from 
him, John vi. 32, 35. There 
is still a kind of manna pro- 
duced in Poland, Calabria, 
Dauphine, Lebanon, and A- 
rabia. That of Italy, is a 
juice proceeding from ash- 
trees, about the dog-days ; 
but that in Arabia, is found on 
leaves of trees, or herbs, and 
even on the sand ; its quali- 
ty is rather purgative than 
nourishing ; and for that ef- 
fect is now used in medicine. 
Besides the nourishing vir- 
tue of the manna that sus- 



tained the Hebrews in the 
desert, it was altogether 
miraculous on other accounts. 
It fell on six days of every 
week, not on the seventh, 
and in such prodigious quan- 
tities, as to sustain almost 
three millions of men, wo- 
men, and children. According 
to Scheuchzer, they must 
have consumed 94,466 bush- 
els per day. It fell in double 
quantities on the sixth day, 
that there might be enough 
for the seventh. It fell only 
on Israel's camp. It remain- 
ed fresh all the seventh day, 
but at any other time, bred 
worms, if kept over night. 
It constantly continued for 
40 years, and ceased as soon 
as the Hebrews had access 
to eat of the old corn of Ca- 
naan. 

MARANATHA, a Syriac 
word, meaning, our Lord 
cometh. 

MARK, the son of Mary, 
at whose house a prayer 
meeting was kept, Acts xii. 
12. He was cousin to Bar- 
nabas, and a companion of 
Paul. 

MARRIAGE, the act of 
uniting a man and woman in 
wedlock ; it also signifies the 
sacred and mystical union 
between Christ and his 
church, Eph. v. 30—32. 

MARY, the mother of 
our Lord. She was the 
daughter of Eli, or Joachim, 
of the royal, but then debas- 



MAT 



81 



MEG 



ed, family of David. She 
lived at Nazareth, and was 
betrothed to one Joseph of 
the same place and family. 

2. Mary, the wife of 
Cleophas, and mother of 
James, Jude, Joses, Simeon, 
and Salome their sister, is 
supposed to have been the 
sister of the virgin ; and so 
her children are repre- 
sented as the brothers of our 
Lord, John xix. 25. Matt, 
xxvii. 56. Mark xv. 41. 
Luke xxiv. 10. Mark 
vi. 5. Matt. xiii. 55. She 
early believed on our Sa- 
viour, attended his preach- 
ing, and ministered to him 
for his support. At a distance 
she with grief witnessed his 
crucifixion, Markxv. 40, 41. 
She was present at his burial, 
and prepared spices for em- 
balming his dead body, Luke 
xxiii. 56. 

MARY MAGDALENE. 
She seems to have been an 
inhabitant of Magdala; and 
it is hinted by some, that 
she was a plaiter of hair to 
the women of her city. 

MATTHEW, was also 
named Levi, a Galilean by 
birth, and a tax-gatherer by 
profession. He wrote the 
gospel called by his name, 
about A. D. 41. probably in 
the Hebrew language. A- 
bout A. D. 184, there was 
found in the East Indies, a 
Greek copy, which has in- 
duced some to suppose it was 



originally written in Greek. 
In the year A. D. 488 an- 
other Greek copy was found 
at Cyprus, written on wood, 
and esteemed very ancient. 

MATTHIAS, one of the 
seventy disciples, chosen by 
the first church, perhaps 
without a sufficient divine 
warrant, to fill the place of 
Judas Iscariot. 

MAZZAROTH, supposed 
to mean a constellation in 
the heavens. It was the 
Chaldee name for the signs 
of the Zodiac. 

MEDIA, a vast region be- 
tween Persia and the Cas- 
pian Sea, deriving its name 
from Madai, son of Japhet, 
Gen. x. 2. Cyrus, king of 
Persia, by his wife fell heir 
to the crown of Media, thus 
making the kingdom of the 
Medes and Persians. Me- 
dia is now called Aider- 
Beitzan, and sometimes Irak 
Adjam, Acts ii. 9. 

MEDIATOR, one who 
acts between parties at va- 
riance, in order to bring 
them to an agreement, 
Gal. iii. 20. Jesus Christ 
is the one Mediator. He 
alone, by his satisfaction to 
God, and intercession with 
him, and by his powerful 
and gracious instruction and 
influence of sinful men, 
brings both together, into a 
new-covenant state of agree- 
ment, 2 Tim. ii. 5. 

MEGIDDO, a city in 



MEL 



82 



MEL 



the tribe of Manasseh, fa- 
mous for two great battles 
being fought near it. One 
in which Jabius' army was 
routed by Deborah and Ba- 
rak, Judges i. 5, in the other 
Josiah was overthrown and 
slain by Necho, king of 
Egypt, who was on his way 
through the land of Israel 
to attack the king of Babylon. 
2 Kings xxxiii. 29, 30. 
Near Megiddo was the town 
of Had ad Rimmon, (after- 
wards called Maximianopo- 
lis,) therefore the lamenta- 
tion for the death of Josiah, 
is called "the mourning of 
Hadadrimmom, in the val- 
ley of Megiddon," Zech. xii. 
11. The greatness of that 
mourning for good Josiah 
was such as that the quoted 
expression was a proverbial 
one for any great sorrowing, 
and*is so used by the pro- 
phet. 

MEEKNESS, that quiet 
temper of mind, which is not 
soon provoked to anger, but 
suffers injuries without de- 
sire of revenge, and submits 
to the will of God, Col. iii. 
12; a humble, frame of spirit, 
ready to receive and enter- 
tain the truths of God's 
word, James i. 21. 

MELITA or MALTA, is 
a small island of the Medi- 
terranean Sea, about 54 
miles south of Sicily. It is 
about 18 miles long, and 12 
fcroad, and seems to have had 



its name from its being Melet, 
or a place of refuge to the 
ancient Tyrians in their voy- 
ages to Carthage and Spain. 
About A. D. 63, Paul and 
his companions were ship- 
wrecked on this island, and 
kindly entertained by the 
natives. About A. D. 1530, 
it was given by Charles V. 
to the Military Knights, who 
had been driven by the 
Turks from Rhodes. It was 
afterwards taken from the 
French by England, under 
the government of which 
country it now remains. The 
number of inhabitants is 
about 50,000. It has lately 
become a centre of Mission- 
ary and Bible operations for 
the ^countries bordering on 
the Mediterranean. 

MELCHIZEDEK, king 
of Salem, and priest of the 
Most High God. Who he 
was, hath afforded much dis- 
pute ; some will have him 
to be Christ, or the Holy 
Ghost ; but Paul distinguish- 
es between him and our Sa- 
viour, and says, he was but 
made like unto the Son of 
God. Both Moses and Paul 
represent him as a mere 
man, who reigned at Salem. 
Jesus is a priest after the 
order of Melchizedek; as 
God, he was without begin- 
ning ; as man, his origin 
was miraculous ; he was in- 
stalled in his office only by 
God, and is therein superior 



MES 



83 



MIL 



to all the Aaronic and ran- 
somed priests. 

MERCURY, the son of 
Jupiter and Maia, was one 
of the fabulous deities of the 
Heathen, and messenger to 
the rest. He was worship- 
ped as the patron of learning, 
eloquence, and trade. He 
was sometimes called Her- 
mes. The fluency of Paul, 
made the people of Lystra 
suppose Paul was Mercury, 
Acts xiw 12. 

MERCY. That attribute 
of God w T hich induces him to 
pity and relieve his suffering 
creatures. All our blessings 
are therefore called mercies. 
It means also that feeling, 
which prompts us to assist 
the unfortunate, and to for- 
give those that do wrong. 

MERCYSEAT, the lid 
of the ark of the covenant, 
round which was the crown 
or border of gold, and on 
which the angels were re- 
presented as looking. Be- 
fore this the High Priest 
stood to ask counsel of the 
Lord, and there he received 
blessings for the people. 
Christ is our mercy seat, 
Rom. hi. 25, and by him 
we have access to the Father. 

MESOPOTAMIA. The 
word means between rivers. 
The famous province of this 
name was between the Ti- 
gris and Euphrates, and is 
called in the Old Testament, 
Padan-Aram. Here was 



the Garden of Eden, and the 
and the tower of Babel. It 
was the original residence of 
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and 
all their children, save Ben- 
jamin, Gen. xi. 31. It was 
astonishingly populous, con- 
taining according to Ptolemy 
70 important cities. Chris- 
tianity in a mutilated form still 
exists here, amid much Tur- 
kish oppression. The place 
is now called Diarbekir. 

MESSIAH, the same as 
Christ, and signifies the an- 
ointed. It is applied exclu- 
sively, to that sovereign de- 
liverer, who was expected 
by the Jews, and came at 
the appointed time. Dan. ix. 
25, 26. John i. 41. 

MILL. See Grind. 

MILLET, a very common 
grain in eastern countries, 
but far inferior in excellence 
to wheat. Its name is de- 
rived from the latin mille, a 
thousand, in allusion to its 
extraordinary fruitfulness. 
It is made into bread with 
oil or butter, and is almost 
the only food of the poorest 
classes in Arabia Felix. 

MILETUS, or Miletum, 
a seaport city of Caria, in 
Lesser Asia, and the capital 
city of both Caria and Ionia. 
It is said to have been built 
by Miletus, the son of the 
idol god Apollo. Here were 
four harbours sufficient to 
hold all the Persian fleet. 
Here was a magnificent tern- 



MIN 



84 



MIT 



pie of Apollo. Here Thales 
and Anaximenes, the famed 
philosophers, were born, and 
Timotheus the famous musi- 
cian. The place was also 
famed for its milote, or mi- 
late, a soft kind of wool, of 
which they made fine car- 
pets. The Milesians had an- 
ciently kings of their own. 
The Persians ruined their 
city, and transplanted the in- 
habitants. They returned 
and rebuilt it; but were 
quickly made slaves by the 
Persians. When they fell un- 
der the power of the Greeks 
and the Romans, they were 
kindly used. They ancient- 
ly sent out colonies to Spain, 
and other places ; some think 
even to Ireland. It lay a- 
bout thirty-six miles south- 
west of Ephesus ; and here 
Paul sent for, and gave sol- 
emn charges to the elders of 
that church. Acts xx. 15— 
38. For about three hun- 
dred years after Christ, we 
find no marks of a church 
at Miletus; but in the 5th, 
6th, 7th, and 8th centuries 
of the Christian era, there 
were bishops in this place. 
Since the Saracens ravaged 
these parts, it has gone to 
ruin, that nothing is to be 
seen but rubbish, and a few 
cottages for shepherds. 

MINISTER, one who 
serves another. It is ap- 
plied to Christ, who is called 
a minister of the sanctuary, 



being now entered into heav- 
en. He there presents the 
merit of his sacrifice, as our 
high priest ; to such as are ap- 
pointed to attend the service 
of God in his church, to dis- 
pense faithfully and wisely 
the word and sacraments ; 
to officers of the state and 
magistrates, who punish the 
transgressors of the law, and 
defend the good; to the ho- 
ly angels, who are always 
ready to execute the com- 
mands of God. 

MIRACLE, a wonder ; an 
effect above any human skill 
to accomplish, performed in 
proof of some important truth. 
The divinity of our Saviour 
was proved by the miracles 
he performed. They were 
such as could be performed 
only by the power of God, 
and had for their object, to 
confirm a doctrine most be- 
coming the glorious attri- 
butes of God ; and for the ac- 
complishment of the proph- 
ecies concerning the Messi- 
ah, whose coming was tore- 
told to be with miraculous 
healing benefits, John hi. 2, 
9,16. 

MITYLENE, the capital 
of Lesbos, an island in the 
east end of the Mediterra- 
nean. Famous as the birth 
place of Alexus the poet, 
Sappho the poetess, Theo- 
phanes the historian, Pitta- 
cus the philosopher, and Di- 
ophanes the orator. It is 



MON 



85 



MOR 



now called Castro. Acts xx. 
14. 

MOAB. 1. The son of Lot, 
was born about the same 
time as Isaac, in A. M. 2108. 

2. The land called by his 
name, eastward of the Dead 
Sea, and about the river Ar- 
non, with the Ammonites on 
the north-east, and the Mid- 
ianites on the south-west of 
them. The present name of 
this country is El Rabba. 

MOLOCH, an idol of the 
Ammonites ; called also Ash- 
toreth and Malcom, or Mil- 
corn. Solomon built a tem- 
ple to this deity, and the Is- 
raelites seemed more easily 
to slide into the idolatry of 
this god than any other. Lev. 
xviii. 21. 1 King xi. See 
Ashtoreth and Baal. 

MONEY. Coined money 
was in use long before the 
time of Christ. A talent of 
silver was equal to fifteen 
hundred dollars of our mo- 
ney; a talent of gold to 
twenty-four thousand. The 
piece of money which Pe- 
ter took from the mouth of a 
fish was probably a shekel, 
or the Greek stater, which 
was of the same value. Mat. 
xii. 27. A pound was about 
equal to sixty shekels. A 
penny was one fourth of a 
stater or shekel, equal to 12 
cents of our money. A far- 
thing was the fortieth part 
Of a penny, or about the 
third of our cent. Matt. v. 



26. A mite was half a far- 
thing. Mark xii. 42. It is 
thought there was also a far- 
thing equal to one tenth of a 
Roman penny. 

MONEY-CHANGERS, 
were such as, at a certain 
rate of profit, exchanged for- 
eign coins, or gave smaller 
pieces of money for larger, 
or larger for smaller, to ac- 
commodate such as came to 
the solemn feasts, or other 
worship at Jerusalem. These 
Jesus twice drove from the 
stations which they had tak- 
en in the courts of the tem- 
ple. John ii. 14, 15. Matt. 
xxi. 12. 

MOON, a secondary plan- 
et, alwaj's attendant on our 
earth. The moon was form- 
ed to give light in, and rule 
the night, and to distinguish 
times and seasons. Gen. i. 
14. She has a mighty influ- 
ence on the ebbing and flow- 
ing of the sea ; and was the 
great marker of the time of 
the Jewish feasts. The 
Heathens have generally- 
worshipped the moon, under 
the names of Queen of heav- 
en, Venus-Urania, Succoth- 
benoth, Ashtaroth, Diana,. 
Hecate, or perhaps Meni, 
&c. Job xxxi. 26, 27. Deut. 
iv. 19, xvii. 3. The orien- 
tals regulate their journeys 
by the moon, and set off soon 
after her change. 

MORDECAI, the son of 
Jair, grandson of Kish, and 



MOU 



MUR 



descendant of the family of 
Saul, was carried to Babylon 
along with Jehoiachin, king 
of Judah, when he was ve- 
ry young. He rose to a 
seat at the king's gate : that 
is, to be one of the great 
men of the kingdom. Ruth 
iv. 1, Gen. xxii. 17, Esther 
ii. 19, and v. 9. 

MOTH, a very small, frail 
insect, found most frequent- 
ly in garments which lay 
long unused. The allusions 
to this creature in sacred 
Scripture are important, 
though not numerous. It is 
said, Job iv. 19, that man is 
crushed before the moth j 
that is, overcome by the 
smallest enemies, and se- 
cretly and imperceptibly 
wastes away, as doth a gar- 
ment. Isa. i. 9. When the 
Lord meant to destroy E- 
phraim, but not suddenly, 
he says, 1 1 will be as moth 
unto Ephraim.' The moth 
forms her cell in the cloth, 
and is, therefore, destroying 
her abode day by day, till at 
last both are reduced to no- 
thing. Such is the prosperity 
of a wicked man, he build- 
eth his house as a moth. He 
lives only to enlarge his nes: 
and revel in his plenty, but 
both he and his shall be de- 
stroyed. 

MOUSE, a very small 
quadruped, but very injuri- 
ous. Some are peculiar to 
fields and gardens, never ap- 



proaching houses ; and some 
live in houses only. In east- 
ern countries the field mouse 
sometimes ravages whole 
fields, and even districts, 
which was one of the plagues 
endured by the Philistines 
for keeping the ark of God, 
and the reason why five 
golden mice were sent back 
with it. 1 Sam. vi. 4, 5. 
This animal is amazingly 
prolific, and were not the in- 
crease kept down by their 
being the chosen food of 
owls, hawks, snakes, wea- 
sels, cats and rats, they 
would prove a continual 
scourge. 

MULE, an animal of mix- 
ed breed,between a horse and 
an ass. We know of the ex- 
istence of mules so long ago 
as the time of Homer; and 
though the Jews were for- 
bidden to have any mixed 
race of animals, yet they 
were employed in the Holy 
Land long before the time of 
David. It is remarkably 
sure footed, patient, hardy, 
obstinate, swift and strong, 
and lives to twice the age of 
a horse. They are little 
used in New England, but 
are very common in the 
southern states. Still more 
use is made of them in South 
America, France, Spain, and 
especially in mountainous re- 
gions, as the Alps, Pyren- 
nes, &c. 

MURRAIN, a disease 



MUS 



87 



MUS 



which smote the cattle of the 
Egyptians, and is rapid and 
destructive in its progress. 
As in Europe epidemic dis- 
tempers in cattle have been 
known to advance over a 
country at the rate of a cer- 
tain number of miles in a 
day, it has been supposed 
that the cause was flying in- 
sects. 

MUSTARD, a plant, the 
seed of which is very small, 
but which in some latitudes 
acquires a great size, so as to 
be truly the greatest among 
herbs. Mention is made 
in the Talmud of enormous 
mustard plants into one of 
which the owner climbed, 
as into a fig-tree, and anoth- 
er was so large as to cover 
a tent. That mentioned 
Matt. xiii. 31, is called by 
Linneas, Sinapi Eurocoi- 
des. Its branches are real 
wood, as appears from a spe- 
cimen in the collection of 
the late Sir Joseph Banks. 

MUSIC is of very ancient 
origin. Tubal, a descendant 
of Cain, long before the flood, 
taught men to play on the 
harp and organ. Laban 
complained that Jacob de- 
prived him of an opportuni- 
ty of sending off his daugh- 
ter with music. Gen. iv. 21, 
xxxi. 27. The ancient 
Hebrews had a very great 
taste for music : when they 
had passed the Red Sea, both 
men and women sung their 



respective hymns to the 
praise of God, their miracu- 
lous deliverer. Exod. xv. 
Silver trumpets were divine- 
ly ordered to be made for 
sounding over their sacrifi- 
ces, especially at solemn 
feasts. Numb. x. With mu- 
sic Jephthah's daughter wel- 
comed him home from his 
victory, Judg. ix. 34; and 
with music the Hebrew wo- 
men welcomed David back 
from the slaughter of Goliath. 
1 Sam. xviii. 6. David him- 
self was an excellent musi- 
cian, and it seems had plen- 
ty of singing men and sing- 
ing women in his court. 1 
Sam. xvi. 2 Sam. vi. 19. 
21. Solomon had them per- 
haps in far greater number. 
Eccl. ii. 8. In the time of 
Jeroboam the son of Joash, 
the Israelites valued them- 
selves upon inventing new 
musical instruments. Amos 
vi. 5. At his idolatrous fes- 
tival, Nebuchadnezzar had 
a large concert of music ; 
and music was the ordinary 
recreation of the Midian 
king. Dan. hi. 6, 18. The 
temple-music makes the 
chief figure in Scripture. 
David in his own time com- 
posed a variety of Psalms* 
and caused his skilful play- 
ers to set them to music, as 
appears by their inscriptions 
to Jeduthun, Asaph, or the 
sons of Korah. 1 Chron. 
xv. 16. As now the Le- 



M YR 



88 



MYS 



vites were eased of a great 
part of the burdensome work 
of their charge, by the tab- 
ernacle and ark being fixed 
in a place, David, before his 
death, distributed the four 
thousand sacred singers in- 
to twenty- four classes, who 
should serve at the temple 
in their turns. The three 
chief musicians were Asaph, 
Heman, and Jeduthun. The 
four sons of Asaph, six of 
Jeduthun, and fourteen of 
Heman, were constituted the 
chiefs of the twenty-four 
classes. It is probable that 
they all, or most of them, 
attended the solemn festivals. 
Their neginoth, or string- 
ed instruments, were the 
psaltery and harp, to which 
may perhaps be added, the 
sheminith, shushan, or shu- 
shanim, and the alamo th and 
dulcimer and sacbut ; and 
the nehiloth, or wind in- 
struments, were the organ, 
cornet, flute, pipe, and trum- 
pet. They had also tim- 
brels, cymbals, and bells. 
But our best information af- 
fords us no certain knowl- 
edge of their particular forms. 
MYRRH, a gum issuing 
from the myrrh -tree, which 
is common in Arabia, Egypt, 
and Abyssinia. Sometimes 
it issues spontaneously ; but 
chiefly flows out by means 
of incision. The incisions 
are made twice a year, and 
the gum or rosin is received 



on rush mats spread below. 
It comes to Europe in loose 
grains, mostly about the size 
of peas, or horse beans, and 
but seldom roundish. The 
ancients used it as a per- 
fume, and for embalming 
the dead. It is very bitter; 
hence called gall, and has the 
property, like opium, of mit- 
igating the sense of pain. 
Hence some one benevo- 
lently offered it to Christ, 
but he declined such relief. 

MYRTLE, a beautiful 
plant, of lowly stature, very 
common in the east. The 
blossoms are perfectly white 
and intensely fragrant. In 
this uncongenial country, its 
size is very diminutive ; but 
in the Levant it attains the 
height of eight or ten feet. 
The church is compared to 
it, Isaiah lv. 13. 

MYSTERY, a secret; 
something which, in our 
present imperfect state, it is 
impossible we should fully 
understand. Thus the doc- 
trine of a Trinity, the in- 
carnation, the union which 
exists between Christ and his 
people, &c. are mysteries. 
Many things which were 
mysteries anciently, are 
made known by Christ and 
his apostles ; and many 
things in the Bible which are 
mysteries to the irreligious, 
or feeble Christians, are un- 
derstood by such as are emi- 
nently good and studious. 



NAZ 



89 



NEB 



N. 



NAOMI, and her husband 
Elimelech, retired to the 
land of Moab, because of a 
famine in Canaan. There 
their two sons, Mahlon and 
Chilion, married Orpah and 
Ruth. After about ten years, 
Elimelech and his sons died 
without leaving any chil- 
dren. Naomi resolving to 
return to her country, her 
daughters-in-law attended 
her. She admonished them 
what difficulties they might 
expect, and Orpah returned ; 
but Ruth adhered to her, and 
embraced the Jewish re- 
ligion. 

NATURE. 1. The nat- 
ural order of things, estab- 
lished in the world. 2. The 
actual state, of any thing, or 
that which makes it what 
it is. 3. That principle of 
reason, or natural light in the 
mind of man, which is capa- 
ble of great improvement, 
but requires the grace of 
God to direct it to its proper 
end. Rom. ii. 14. 

NAZARETH, a small city 
of Galilee, about 75 miles 
north of Jerusalem. It was 
noted for wickedness. Mark 
i. 9. Luke iv. 29. John 
46. Here our Saviour la- 



boured the most part of the 
thirty years of his private 
life ; but their contempt of 
his ministry, and early at- 
tempt to murder him, by 
casting him from the brow 
of the hill whereon their city 
was built, occasioned his 
residing there but little af- 
terwards, and working few 
miracles among; them. Luke 
iv. 16—29. Matt. xiv. 57. 
It was a place of some note 
for about 1200 years after 
Christ ; but is at present of 
small consequence. 

NAZARITE, or JYaza- 
rene, A Jew who made a 
vow to observe uncommon 
devotion either for a given 
period or for life. See Num- 
bers vi. 

Jesus Christ was in fact, 
what these were in profes- 
sion, consecrated to God, 
and hence is called a Naza- 
rene ; but is not predicted by 
any prophet under that ex- 
press title. 

NEAPOLIS, a sea-port in 
Macedonia, Acts xvi. 11, the 
same city which is now call- 
ed JVapoli. 

NEBO, a city 8 miles 
south of Heshbon. It is now 
called JLbarim. There was 



NEB 



90 



NEB 



also an idol of this name 
thought to be the same as 
JDagon, or perhaps Che- 
mosh. 

NEBUCHADNEZZAR, 
Nebuchadrezzar, or JYdbo- 
polassar, the most famed 
king of Babylon. When Pha- 
raoh-necho had taken Car- 
chemish, a city on the Eu- 
phrates, the Phoenicians, and 
part of the Syrians, revolted 
from the Chaldeans, who, it 
seems had just before reduc- 
ed them. Nabopolassar, be- 
ing then stricken in years, 
sent Nebuchadnezzar, his 
son, with an army to recover 
them. He gained a com- 
plete victory over the Egyp- 
tians at Carchemish, retook 
the place, and put the garri- 
son to the sword. He then, 
with an army of 180,000 foot, 
120,000 horse, and 10,000 
chariots, according to Eupo- 
lemus, ravaged Phenicia and 
Canaan, took Jerusalem, and 
bound Jehoiakim, then trib- 
utary to the Egyptians, in 
chains, to carry him to Bab- 
ylon ; but afterwards allowed 
him to retain his kingdom, as 
a vassal of the Chaldeans. 
He carried to Babylon, Dan- 
iel, Hananiah, Mishael, and 
Azariah, and others of the 
princes of Judah. To the 
above four young men, he 
gave new names, importing 
connection with his idol gods, 
called them Belteshazzar, 
Shadrach, Meshach, and 



Abednego. These, and other 
young captives, he caused 
to be trained up in all the 
learning of the Chaldeans, 
that they might serve in the 
court, 2 Kings xxiv. Dan. i. 
About A. M. 3399, his 
father died, and he was sole 
king of Babylon. In the 
second year of his reign, he 
had a surprising dream, but 
entirely forgot it. He as- 
sembled his diviners, and 
charged them to tell him his 
dream, and the interpreta- 
tion thereof. They told him 
that though they could in- 
terpret dreams, yet none but 
the gods could tell a man 
what he had dreamed ; and 
that never a king had de- 
manded any such thing from 
his diviners. Being outrage- 
ously provoked, he ordered 
Arioch, the captain of his 
guard, to put every wise man 
of Babylon to death. Daniel, 
however, obtained leave to 
tell the king his dream, and 
the interpretation thereof. 
He was so satisfied with the 
account, and interpretation, 
that he fell on his face before 
Daniel, as if he were a deity, 
and ordered an oblation of 
spices to be presented to him, 
and acknowledged his God, 
the God of gods, and Lord of 
kings. He made Daniel 
chief of the wise men, and 
governor of the province of 
Babylon ; and made Sha- 
drach, Meshach, and Abed- 



NEW 



91 



NIG 



nego, subordinate governors 
in the same place, Dan. ii. 

NEHEMIAH, the son of 
Hachaliah, was, perhaps, of 
the royal family of David. 
His being cup-bearer in the 
Persian court, and his suc- 
ceeding Zerubbabel in the 
government of the Jews, 
tends to confirm this opinion. 
NEIGHBOUR. 1. One 
who lives near another. 2. 
Every man to whom we have 
an opportunity of doing good, 
Matt. xxii. 39. 3. One who 
pities and relieves another in 
distress. Luke x. 36. 4. One 
who stands in need of help, 
Prov. iii. 28. Our Saviour 
reproved the Pharisees for 
using the word in a restrain- 
ed sense, and informed them 
that the whole world were 
their neighbours, and that 
their charity should be exer- 
cised, even to their enemies. 
Matt. v. 43, Luke x. 29. 
NEW TESTAMENT. The 
sacred book of Christians, 
though not to the exclusion 
entirely of the Old Testa- 
ment. The books which 
compose the New Testament 
were written in the follow- 
ing order: 

A. D. 

33. The Gospel of Matthew written 

in Judea. 
52. 1st and 2d Thess. written from 

Corinth. 
Galat. written from Corinth or 

Macedonia. 
56. 1st Corinth, written from Ephe- 

sus. 



A. D. 

57. 2d Corinth, written from Mace- 

donia. 

58. Romans written from Corinth. 

61. Ephesians written from Rome. 
James written at Jerusalem. 

62. Philippians, Colossians and Phil- 



63. The Gospel of Luke written in 

Greece. 
The Epistle to the Hebrews writ- 
ten from Rome. 

64. The Acts of the Apostles written 

in Greece. 
1st Timothy, and Titus written in 

Macedonia. 
1st Peter written from Babylon. 

65. The Gospel of Mark wiitten 

from Rome. 
2d Timothy written from Rome. 
2d Peter written from Babylon. 
Jude, where written, unknown. 
90. 1st John, written from Patm03. 

2d and 3d John from Ephesus. 

96. John, at Ephesus, writes the book 

of Revelation. 

97. John writes his Gospel at the 

same place. 

NIGHT: 1. The time 
when the sun is helow our 
horizon. 2. The time of hea- 
thenish/ignorance and pro- 
faneness, Rom. xiii. 12. 3. 
Adversity, which as night, 
is perplexing, comfortless, 
and disagreeable, Isa. xxi. 
12. 4. Death, wherein we 
are laid asleep, John ix. 4. 
5. The season in which any 
thing comes suddenly and 
unexpectedly upon us, 1. 
Thess. vi. 2. Isa. xv. 1. Luke 
xii. 20. 6. The whole time 
of our life on earth, dur- 
ing which we are dark, by 
reason of ignorance, and are 
exposed to danger and sin- 
ful stumbling:. Rom. xiii. 12. 



OAT 



92 



OAT 



NINEVEH, a city of As 
syria. It was the capital of 
that empire till Esharhaddon 
conquered the kingdom of 
Babylon, when that city 
shared the royal presence, 
the court being sometimes 
at one place and sometimes 
at the other. It was found 
ed by Ashur,the son of Shem, 
Gen. x. 11, and became one 
of the largest cities in the 
world. In the 29th year of 
the reign of Josiah, king of 
Judah, Nineveh was destroy- 
ed utterly by the Medes. It 
was afterward partially re- 
built, but never became con- 
siderable. It is now called 
Mosul, and is only famous 
for being the residence of 
the Patriarch of the Nestori- 
ans, of which sect are most 



of the Christians in those 
parts. Mosul is on the west 
side of the Tigris, which was 
anciently only an appendage 
to the city, which itself stood 
on the east side, where are 
ruins of vast extent seen to 
this day. According to Dio- 
darus Siculus, the circum- 
ference of Nineveh was 60 
miles. Hence Jonah was 
three days in going round to 
proclaim its overthrow : 20 
miles being as much as a 
man can leisurely walk in a 
day. 

The destruction of Nine- 
veh, above mentioned, ful- 
filled the following prophe- 
cies, which the reader should 
look out. Jonah iii. Na- 
hum ii. and iii. Zephaniah 
ii. 13. 



O. 



OAK, a tree of great stat- 
ure and durability. Abra- 
ham pitched his tent, and 
Joshua set up the taber- 
nacle beneath an oak, Joshua 
xxiv. 26. Its durability 
made the idolater select it 
as the substance of his god, 
Ez. vi. 13. The Druids held 
it sacred. It is admirable 
timber for ships, and is now 
chiefly used for that purpose. 

OATH, a solemn act, 
wherein we swear by God ; 



or call him to witness th« 
truth of what we assert or 
promise, and to curse us in 
time and eternity, if we 
swear what is false or un- 
known to us, or if we do not 
perform what we engage. 
An oath should never be 
taken but in matters of 
importance, nor sworn by 
the name of any but the 
true God, as is it an act of 
solemn worship, Josh, xxiii. 
7. James v. 12. Deut. vi. 



OFF 



93 



OFF 



13. Matt. v. 34, 35. Jer. v 
7 ; — nor irreverently, with 
out godly fear and awe of 
the Most High. The mul- 
tiplication of oaths, therefore, 
in commerce, and common 
affairs, is a great sin. The 
irreverent and hurried man- 
ner in which they are tco 
frequently administered, has 
a great tendency to increase 
perjury. 

OFFERING, a sacrifice ; 
any thing offered oi* present- 
ed in worship. The He- 
brews had several kinds of 
Offerings, which were all 
intended to exhibit and en- 
force the great truths of reli- 
gion: — the Burnt-Offer- 
ings were presented to God, 
as the Maker, Preserver, 
and Lord of the universe, 
entitled to all adoration and 
honour. As their name im- 
ports, they were all burnt, 
excepting the skin. They 
signified unto the people, 
that the whole man, in whose 
stead they were offered, was 
to be entirely devoted to 
God, without reserve ; — that 
he himself had deserved to 
be utterly consumed ; — that 
the sufferings of Jesus Christ, 
as the sinner's substitute, 
would be extremely great ; — 
and that all fleshly lusts, and 
selfishness of principle, are 
to be completely mortified 
by the worshippers of Jeho- 
vah. The Sin-offering, or 
Trespass-offering, was 
I 



presented to God, in the 
character of an offended 
Judge, having a power 
either to punish or pardon 
the transgressor of his law. 
It was not so entirely con- 
sumed by fire as the burnt- 
offjring. (Compare Lev. i. 
9, and ch. vii. 8, with ch. vi. 
25, 28, and 29.) The victim 
was intended as an atone- 
ment for iniquity ; it was 
brought to the door of the 
tabernacle, the offender put 
his hand upon its head, con- 
fessed his sins, and supplica- 
ted pardon, saying, c; I be- 
seech thee, Lord ; I have 
sinned, I have trespassed, I 
have rebelled ; — but now I 
repent, and let this," (that 
is, his sacrifice) " be my ex- 
piation :" — the animal was 
then slain, and reconciliation 
enjoyed with God. It is 
thus we confess our sins, in 
an humble dependence upon 
the atonement of Jesus 
Christ, and look for salvation 
through his precious blood. 
The Peace-offerings and 
Thank-Offerings, had 
respect to God as reconciled 
unto us, and the Giver of all 
our possessions ; — they were 
free-will' or voluntary obla- 
tions, either in return for 
blessings received, or in sup- 
plication for mercies desired. 
Jesus Christ is our Peace- 
Offering, and it is for him, 
and by him, that we render 
thanksgivings unto the Fa- 



OLI 



94 



ONE 



(her. The Wave-Offer- 
ings were shaken or tossed 
to and fro, towards the sev- 
eral parts of the world, to 
denote God's universal do- 
minion and the extent of the 
Redeemer's sacrifice. " For 
the law was a shadow of 
good things to come ; but the 
body is of Christ" Colos. 
ii. 17; and Heb. x. 1. 

OIL ; Ointment : is now 
extracted from the fat of 
fishes, from linseed, and a 
multitude of other substan- 
ces. Oil obtained from olives, 
that is, such as we now call 
sweet oil, was abundant in 
the Holy Land, Deut. xxxii. 
Bread dipped in oil, was 
reckoned a delicate repast. 
An infusion of some flowers 
made it very fragrant for 
anointing. Matt. xxvi. 8. 
Gen. xxvii. 27. Psal. xcii. 
10. The Hebrews used 
olive oil in their meat offer- 
ings, in their sacred lamps, 
and in their common use ; 
but there was an oil very 
precious and sacred, com- 
pounded with cinnamon, ca- 
lamus, cassia, and myrrh, 
which was used in the anoint- 
ing of the priests, the taber- 
nacle and furniture. None of 
it was to be applied to any oth- 
er use ; nor was any for com- 
mon use to be made like to it. 

OLIVET, or Mount of 
Olives, stood about 625 paces 
cast of Jerusalem, and separa- 
ted from it by the valley of Je- 



hoshaphat and brook Kidron. 

OLIVE, a tree very com- 
mon in Judea. There are 
two kinds, the wild and the 
cultivated, the former being 
smaller and poorer than the 
latter. It is the chief re- 
source of Orientals for oil, 
an article they use in great 
abundance, both for food and 
ointment, as well as light. It 
was also considered good for 
wounds, bruises, &c. It was 
God's sign of peace to Noah. 
Capt. Cook, found that green 
branches, carried in the 
hands, or stuck in the ground 
were the emblems of peace, 
universally employed and un- 
derstood by the numerous 
and untutored inhabitants of 
the South Sea islands. The 
origin of a custom, thus re- 
ceived, and religiously ob- 
served, by nations dwelling 
on opposite sides of the globe, 
who never had the smallest 
intercourse with one another, 
must be sought for, near the 
beginning of time, when the 
inhabitants of our earth, form- 
ing but one family, attached 
the most pleasing recollec- 
tions to the bringing of an 
olive branch. 

ONESIMUS, a slave of 
Philemon, a wealthy Chris- 
tian in Colosse. He was 
probably perverse, and ab- 
sconded from his master. 
Coming to Rome, he was 
converted to Christianity by 
Palu, and being a man ot 



ORA 



95 



OST 



intelligence and respecta- 
bility, for oriental servants 
are often such, he proved 
Very useful to Paul during 
his imprisonment. He then 
returned to his place with 
Paul's Epistle to Philemon, 
which see. 

ONYX, a precious stone ; 
what it was is very uncer- 
tain, probably a kind of agate. 

OPHIR, the son of Joktan, 
Whether he gave name to 
the country famous for gold, 
or where that country was, 
we can hardly determine. 
It is certain that its gold was 
renowned in the time of Job, 
Job xxii. 24, xxviii. 16 ; and 
that from the time of David 
to the time of Jehoshaphat, 
the Hebrews traded with it, 
and that Uzziah revived this 
trade when he made him- 
self master of Elath, a noted 
port on the Red Sea. In 
Solomon's time, the He- 
brew fleet took up three 
years in their voyage to 
Ophir, and brought home 
gold, apes, peacocks, spices, 
ivory, ebony, and almug- 
trees. 1 Kings ix. 28. x. 11. 
xxii. 48. 2 Chron. xxvi. 8, 
18. ix. 10. 

ORACLE, something de- 
livered by supernatural wis- 
dom. The "mostholy place" 
in the temple was called the 
oracle, because there the 
priest inquired of God. The 
Scriptures are the oracles 
of God, which Christians 



ought to consult at all times ; 
especially in matters of dif- 
ficulty, and in the great af- 
fairs relating to their souls 
and another life, Heb. v. 12. 

ORGAN, a wind instru- 
ment of music, invented by 
Jubal, the sixth in descent 
from Cain; but Jubal's was 
probably very different from 
ours, which are composed of 
various pipes, and some of 
them are 30 or 40 feet long. 
The present kind we do not 
know to be more than 800 
years old, Gen. iv. 21. Psal. 
cl. 4. 

OSTRICH, the largest of 
all fowls, and apparently the 
connecting link between 
birds and quadrupeds. It is 
often 7 or 8 feet in height, 
and generally weighs from 
60 to 80 pounds. Its eggs 
of wh^ch it lays 30 or 40 in 
a season, are as large as a 
child's head, and are left 
in the sand to be hatched by 
the sun, Job xxxix. 13 — 18. 
They are common in Africa, 
and the Arabs often ride 
upon them. In swiftness, 
they far exceed the horse, 
Job xxxix. 18, and though 
taken by men on horseback, 
it is by stratagem. The Os- 
trich is so timid, that at any 
alarm it will fly and leave its 
eggs, or even its young ones ; 
which explains Lam. iv. 3, 
where it says, " she is hard- 
ened against her young ones, 
as though they were not 



PAL 



96 



PAP 



hers." She is declared ini 
Scripture to be " deprived of 
understanding," and such is 
remarkabty the fact. Stones, 
glass, leather, wood, &c. are 
eaten greedily. In flight, it 
sometimes hides its head, and 
thinking itself safe is easily 
taken. 

OVEN, a place for baking 
food. Some were dug in the 
ground. Some were rather 
similar to American ovens. 
Some were made like a 
pitcher. The fire was put 
inside, and the dough spread 
thin over the outside, which 



was baked in a few min- 
utes. Fuel being scarce, 
as it is in all eastern coun- 
tries, dried cowdung, stubble, 
stalks of flowers, and grass, 
were used, Matt. vi. 30. 

OWL, a bird of night, of 
the rapacious kind, very 
various in size and colour, 
and found chiefly in desert 
solitudes, and ruined houses, 
Isa. xiii. 21. Their voice 
is excessively disagreeable 
and melancholy, Job xxx. 
29. Ps. cii. 6. Wicked men 
are compared to owls, for they 
hate the light, Isa. xliii. 20. 



P. 



PALM-TREE, remaukable 
for loftiness, straightness, and 
productiveness, and hence 
made an emblem in Scrip- 
ture of uprightness, fruitful- 
ness and victory. The fruit 
is the date, very sweet and 
nourishing, 2 Chron. xxxi. 5. 
It is the size of a plumb or 
olive. Palm branches were 
signals of joy, and therefore 
the blessed in heaven are 
represented as bearing them. 
Rev. vii. 9. 

The palm-tree attains full 
maturity in thirty years from 
planting the seed, and con- 
tinues in full strength 70 or 
80 years, and finally dies at 



about two hundred years old. 
From its sap, pahn wine is 
made, called by the natives 
Araky. 

PAMPHYLIA, a province 
of Asia Minor, having the 
Mediterranean on the south, 
Lycia on the west, Pisidia 
on the north, and Cilicia on 
the east. Attalia and Pcrga 
were the principal cities of 
it. That part of the Med- 
iterranean lying on the south 
of it, was called the Sea of 
Pamphvlia, Acts ii. 10. xiii. 
13, &c." 

PAPER-REEDS, bulrush- 
es that grow on the banks of 
the Nile, Isa. xix. 7. Of 




THE EGYPTIAN PAPER REED. P. 96. 



PAR 



97 



PAR 



these the Egyptians made 
baskets, shoes, clothes, and 
small boats, Ex. ii. 3, Isa. 
xviii. 2. To make paper, 
they peeled off the different 
skins or films, one after an- 
other; these they stretched 
on a table, to the intended 
length or breadth of the pa- 
per, and laid over them a thin 
paste ; above which they 
spread a cross layer of other 
films or leaves, and then 
dried it in the sun. The 
films nearest the heart of the 
plant, made the finest paper. 
When Ptolemy king of Egypt 
denied Attalus king of Per- 
gamus this kind of paper, for 
writing his library, he in- 
vented, or mightily improved 
the making of parchment. 
After which, books of note 
were written on parchment, 
far almost 1300 years. The 
parchments that Paul left at 
Troas, and ordered Timothy 
to bring with him, were 
probably either the original 
draughts of some of his epis- 
tles, or a noted copy of the 
Old Testament, 2 Tim. iv. 13. 
For about 550 years, paper 
made of linen rags has been 
in use. 

PAPHOS, a commercial 
city of Cyprus, visited by 
Paul, Acts xiii. 7. It is now 
called Baffa. 

PARABLE, a short, weigh- 
ty sentence, or a similitude, 
used to convey instruction to 
ignorant, prejudiced, or inat- 



tentive hearers. The an- 
cients used them very much. 
The following table, accord- 
ing to Newcome's Harmony, 
shews the order in which 
they were delivered : 

Blind leading the blind, Luke vi. 39" 

House founded on a rock, Mat. vii. 24* 

The two debtors, Luke vii. 41. 

Expelled devil return- 
ing with seven, Matt. xii. 43. 

The rich fool, Luke xii. 16. 

The watchful servants, " xii. 36. 

The barren fig-tree, " xiii. 6. 

The sower, Matt. xiii. 3. 

The tares, " xiii. 24. 

The growth of the seed, Mark iv. 26. 

The mustard seed, Matt. xiii. 31. 

The leaven, " « 33. 

Hidden treasure, u " 44. 

Pearl of great price, " " 45. 

The net, « « 47. 

Good householder, « " 52. 

New piece to an old gar- 
ment, Luke v. 36. 

New wine in old bottles, " " 37. 

The lost sheep, Matt, xviii. 11. 

Unmerciful Servant, " " 23. 

Shepherd and Sheep, John x. 11. 

Good Samaritan, Luke x. 30. 

The ambitious guests " xiv. 7. 

The neglected invitations 

to supper, " xiv. 15. 

Building a tower, « " 28. 

King going to war, " " 31. 

The lost piece of silver, u xv. 8. 

The prodigal son, " " 11. 

The unjuit steward, " xvi. 1. 

Rich man and Lazarus, " " 19. 

The master and servant, " xvii. 7. 

The unjust judge, "xviii. 1. 

Pharisee and Publican, " " 9. 

Labourers in Vinevard, Mat. xx. 1 . 

The ten pouuds, Luke xix. 11. 

The two sons, Matt. xxi. 28. 

Wicked hushandmen, « " 33. 

Wedding garment u xxii. 1. 

Fig-tree putting forth 

leaves, Matt. xxiv. 32. 

The master's return, " " 44. 

The Ten Virgins, " xxv. 1. 

The Talents, " " 14. 

The true Vine, John xv. 1,2. 



PAR 



98 



PAS 



To understand parables, it 
is proper to observe, 1. It is 
not necessary tbat the repre- 
sentation of natural things in 
a parable should be strictly 
matter of fact, because the 
design is not to inform con- 
cerning these, but concern- 
ing some more momentous 
truth; nor is it necessary 
that all the actions in a par- 
able be strictly just. 2 Sam. 
xiv., Luke xvi. 1 — 8. 2. We 
must chiefly attend to the 
scope of the parable, which 
is to be gathered from the 
inspired explication thereof; 
or from the introduction to 
it, or the conclusion of it. 
3. Hence it follows, that we 
are not to expect that every 
circumstance in the parable 
should be answered by some- 
thing in the explication ; for 
several circumstances may 
be added for the sake of de- 
corum, or mere allusion to 
that whence the figure of 
the parable is taken. 4 Yet 
a parable may inform us of 
several truths, besides the 
scope of it. 

PARTHIA, an ancient 
empire, bounded on the north 
by Caucasus, east by the 
Indus, south by the Red Sea, 
and west by the Tigris. The 
natives were remarkable for 
continuing to fight even 
when obliged to retreat. In 
the latter periods of the Ro- 
man republic they were a 
^powerful people, Acts ii. 9. 



PARTITION, a separation 
between the parts of a thing. 
The peculiar ceremonies of 
the Jews, were a "wall of 
partition" between them 
and the Gentiles. Jesus did 
them away, and now the wall 
wall of separation is abolished. 

PARTRIDGE, this bird is 
mentioned but twice in 
Scripture. In 1 Sam. xxvi. 
20, David compares himself 
to it, hunted by his enemy. 
The prophet (Jer. xvii. 11.) 
speaks of "the partridge that 
sitteth on eggs and hatcheth 
them not, as being like the 
man who getteth riches and 
not by right. As the bird 
makes no other nest than a 
hollow on the ground, her 
eggs are very often destroy- 
ed by rains or the feet of 
animals. Several of them 
will lay in the same nest, so 
that the sitting hen cannot 
cover them all, and many are 
spoiled. Fifty or sixty eggs 
are often found in one nest. 

PASSION, any strong or 
violent emotion of the mind, 
desire for, or aversion to a 
thing, as anger, love, joy, 
&c. ; the last sufferings of 
the Redeemer of the world. 

PASSOVER, a feast of the 
Jews, in commemoration of 
the time when God, smiting 
the first-born of the Egyp- 
tians, passed over the habi- 
tations of the Hebre ws. The 
lamb which was slain, called 
the Pascal Lamb, was a type 



PAT 



PAT 



of Christ, the lamb of God, 
slain from the foundation of 
the world, Rev. xiii. 8. And 
as the destroying angel, pas- 
sed over the houses of the 
Hebrews, which were mark- 
ed with the blood of the Pas- 
cal Lamb ; so the wrath of 
God passes over those, whose 
souls are sprinkled with the 
blood of Christ, 1 Cor. v. 7. 

PATARA, a sea-port of 
Lycia. Here was a famous 
temple of Apollo, were ora- 
cles, equal io repute to those 
of Delphos, were given for 
six months of the year. Paul 
touched here in his way 
from Macedonia to Jerusa- 
lem ; but we find nothing 
of Christianity here till the 
fourth century, and it con- 
tinued till the ninth, when 
the Saracens wasted the 
country, Acts xxi. 1. 

PATH. See Way. 

PATHROS, a city or can- 
ton of Egypt. Some will 
have it to be the Phaturis of 
Ptolemy and Pliny. Wells 
makes it a city in Upper E- 
gypt, on the west of the 
Nile. Some will have it the 
Thebais in Upper Egypt. It 
no doubt had its name from 
Pathrusim, the fifth son of 
Mizriam, who built or peo- 
pled it. Gen. x. 14. 

PATIENCE, that noble 
passion or power of the 
mind, whereby a person is 
capable of enduring the dif- 
ficulties, afflictions, and dis- 



appointments that happen in 
this life ; that grace which 
enables us patiently and 
readily to submit to the will 
of God under all circum- 
stances ; a humble and sub- 
missive waiting for, and ex- 
pectation of eternal life, and 
the accomplishment of God's 
promises. 

PATRIARCH, a venera- 
ble man with a large poster- 
ity. The word is chiefly 
applied to those who lived 
before Moses ; and hence we 
speak of the patriarchal -age. 

The following is a list of 
the patriarchs, with the 
length of their lives annexed. 
Adam, 930 years. 

Seth, 912 „ 

Enos, 905 ,, 

Cainan, 910 „ 

Mohalaleal, 895 „ 

Jared, 962 „ 

Enoch, 365 „ 

Methusaleh, , 969 „ 
Lamech, 777 „ 

Noah 950 „ 

Shem, 600 

Arphaxed, 438 „ 

Seloh, 433 „ 

Eber, 464 „ 

Peleg, 239 „ 

Reu 239 

Serug, 230 ,, 

Nahor, 148 ,, 

Terah, 205 ,, 

Abraham, 175 ,, 

Isaac, 180 „ 

Jacob, 147 „ 

PATMOS, an island of the 
Egean Sea, not far from Me- 



PAU 



100 



PEA 



litus. It is about twenty- 
five or thirty miles in cir- 
cumference, and is of a bar- 
ren soil, and is now called 
Patmol, or Palmosa. Rev. 
i. 9. 

PAUL was of the tribe of 
Benjamin, born in Tarsus, 
which, as it was a free city 
of Rome, gave him the hon- 
our and advantage of a Ro- 
man, though both of his pa- 
rents were Jews. His name 
at first was Saul. He was 
sent to Jerusalem for his ed- 
ucation, and became a very 
learned and famous Phari- 
see. He was not converted 
till after our Saviour's death, 
which makes him speak of 
himself as born out of due 
time, and seems to have 
been raised up to take the 
place of Judas. His wonder- 
ful labours and success are re- 
corded in the Acts of the 
Apostles. He was at last 
beheaded by Nero at Rome. 
According to Bishop Pearson, 
the following is the order 
and date of the Epistles writ- 
ten by Paul. 

A. D. *52, The 1 Ep. to the Thess. 
„ 52, The 2 do. do. 

fThe 1 do. Corinth. 

„ t 7 JThe do. Gal. 

01 ) The 2 do. Corinth. 

[The do. Rom. 

f The do. Ephes. 

fi9 jThe do. Phill. 

» ^iThe do. Cellos. 

[The do. Philn). 

„ 63 The do. Heb. 

fi ,(The t do. Tim. 

» b0 \ The do. Titus. 

„ 67 The 2 do. Tim. 



PEACOCK, a beautiful 
bird, not known in Palestine, 
till imported by Solomon, 1 
Kings x. 22. Its native 
country seems to be Persia 
and India. When Alexan- 
der reached the river In- 
dus, he was so charmed 
at the sight of these birds 
that he forbid them to be 
killed, under a severe penal- 
ty, and when Hortensius 
first killed one for supper at 
Rome, he was tried for the 
offence. 

PEARL, a hard white 
shinning substance, found 
in some shell-fishes. It pro- 
ceeds from a disease in the 
animal. The matter pro- 
per to enlarge the shell, 
bursting from the vessels 
that convey it to the outside, 
forms into a pearl. Common 
oysters, the pinna-marina, 
and several other fish, form 
pearls; but the pearl oyster 
of the East Indies, and of 
the Gulf of Mexico in Ameri- 
ca, produce the best. The 
chief fisheries for pearl, are 
at Bahrein, in the Persian 
Gulf, and near the isle of 
Ceylon, in the East Indies. 
The next to these, are the 
pearl fisheries in the gulf of 
Mexico. The beautiful in- 
side of the shell of the pearl 
oyster is called " mother of 
pearl." In 50 years pearls 
generally lose their beauty ; 
and in 100 they are scarce 
worth any thing at all. Cleo- 



PEL 



101 



PEN 



patra, had a pearl valued 
at 80,000 pounds sterling. 
The Persian emperor had 
one worth 110,000 pounds, 
sterling; and Philip II. of 
Spain, had one as large as a 
pigeon's egg, and valued at 
144,000 ducats. What our 
ladies wear in their neckla- 
ces are ordinarily false 
pearls, made of fish-scales, 
bruised, and enclosed in 
glass. What is very ex- 
cellent, is likened to pearls : 
how precious ! how hard to be 
come at in a proper manner ! 
how truly ornamental ! and 
how apt are men to form 
base counterfeits of them. 
Matt. xiii. 46. Rev. xxi. 21, 
22. To cast pearls before 
swine, is to preach the gos- 
pel to persecutors ; apply the 
promises and privileges pro- 
per to saints, to men really 
wicked; to dispense sacra- 
ments to persons notoriously 
profane ; or to administer 
reproofs to obstinate scoffers, 
Matt. vii. 6. 

PELEG, was born one 
hundred years after the 
flood, and was so named be- 
cause in his days, the earth 
was divided into nations, in 
consequence of the confu- 
sion at the Tower of Ba- 
bel. 

PELICAN, an aquatic 
bird, somewhat larger than 
the common goose. Its colour 
is nearly white, the neck 
yellowish, and the back dark 
K 



brown. It has a long crooked 
beak, and the forepart of the 
head towards the throat na- 
ked — Pelicans have a bag 
at their throat sufficient to 
hold two human heads, into 
which they gather fishes, &c. 
for themselves and for their 
young. They are extreme- 
ly careful of their young. 
This bird is very retired in 
its habits, setting for whole 
days alone among rocks and 
solitudes. Its voice is very 
plaintive and disagreeable. 
Hence David compares him- 
self in his distress to the pe- 
lican, Ps. cii. 6. 

PENNY, a Roman coin, 
equal to about thirteen cents. 
It was the common price of a 
day's work. The climate 
is so warm in that country, 
that the fruits of the earth 
are produced in great abund- 
ance, and makes the inhabi- 
tants require little clothing, 
so that labour is very cheap. 

PENTECOST, a feast of 
the Jews, on the 50th day 
after the Passover, called the 
feast of weeks, Ex. xxxiv. 22. 
because it was celebrated 
after the seven weeks of 
harvest, and was a solemn 
thanksgiving for the harvest, 
and a grateful commemora- 
tion of their being delivered 
from Egyptian servitude, and 
enjoying their property, by 
reaping the fruits of their 
labours, Lev. xiii. 10, 11, 
&c. It has been observed 



PER 



102 



PET 



that it was a day on which 
God delivered the law on 
Mount Sinai, Ex. xix. 11 : as 
it was also that on which the 
apostles were filled with the 
Holy Ghost. 

PERDITION, utter ruin ; 
eternal death. The son of 
perdition, means Judas Is- 
cariot. Antichrist, is also 
called by this epithet, 2 
Thes. ii. 2. 
PERFECT, compiete,with- 
out blemish or defect. It is 
applied, 1. To God, who is ab- 
solutely perfect, Matt. v. 48. 
2. To that man who has ris- 
en to the measure of his 
stature in Christ, Col. i. 28. 
S. To some who are innocent 
in comparison of others, Job 
viii. 20. 4. To one who was 
sincere in heart, and unblam- 
able in life, Gen. vi. 9. 5. 
To him who imitates God in 
loving and doing good to 
others, Matt. v. 48. 6. To 
such as have a good degree 
of understanding, 1 Cor. ii. 6. 
7. To things, as weights, 
measures, £:c. Deut. xxv. 
15. 

PERFUME, an agreeable 
smell. In the East, perfumes 
were used to testify great 
respect, Dan. ii. 46. The 
Hebrews had two sacred 
perfumes, one of incense, 
and the other an oil, Ex. xxx. 
23—38. They were addicted 
to the perfuming of dead bo- 
dies, clothes, beds, &c. Gen. 
xxvii. 27. Song iii. 6. Prov. 



vii. 17. Psal. xlv. 8. See 
Eynbalming. 

PERGA, a city of Pam- 
phylia, on the river Castrus, 
near to which, on an emi- 
nence, stood a temple of 
Diana. It was famed for the 
birth of Apollonias, the re- 
nowned geometrician. Here 
Paul and Barnabas preach- 
ed, Acts xiii. 14. xiv. 25 : 
and to the end of the eight 
century we find a Christian 
church here. It is at pres- 
ent a place of little impor- 
tance. There was another 
Perga in Epirus. 

PERGAMOS, a city of 
Asia, in the province of Mys- 
ia, famous for a temple to 
Escuiapius, and a library of 
200,000 volumes, which was 
removed to Egypt by Cleo- 
patra. The Christian church 
here soon degenerated, and 
tolerated fornication ; but ap- 
pears to have been reformed 
by John's letter, Rev. ii. For 
800 years afterward it was 
a considerable church ! A 
Greek and an Armenian 
church exist here at the 
present day. Of the popula- 
tion now, there are 300 Ar- 
menian Christians, 1,500 
Greeks, and a synagogue of 
100 Jews. The remainder 
are Turks. The streets are 
wide and clean, for an east- 
ern city. Its present name is 
Bergamo. 

PETER, son of Jonas, 
bom in Bethsaida. He was of 



PHI 



103 



PHS 



a prompt, resolute temper and 
sometimes impetuous. After 
a life of most exalted useful- 
ness, he was crucified for his 
master's sake, about A. D. 
70. The Roman Catholics 
consider the popes to be the 
successors of Peter, as Bish- 
op of Rome ; but there is no 
proof of his ever having even 
visited that city. 

PHARISEE, one of the 
most ancient sects, and most 
noted and considerable par- 
ties among the Jews, remar- 
kable for their great mortifi- 
cation and rigid way of living, 
fasting constantly every sec- 
ond and fifth day of the week, 
and submitting to many 
severe austerities. They 
studied the law, were very 
exact in the outward obser- 
vance of it, and pretended 
to more holiness than others ; 
adding voluntary sacrifices 
to those that were command- 
ed, and making a great show 
of exactly performing all 
their vows. By these 
methods, they gained the 
good opinion of the populace, 
and were esteemed persons 
of great learning and sanc- 
tity of manners. But they 
corrupted the word of God 
by their expositions, and 
substituted human tradi- 
tions in the room of divine 
truth. 

PHILADELPHIA, a city 
of Lydia, at the foot of mount 
Timolus, was so called, from 



Attalus Philadelphua, who 
built it. It stood about 24 
miles east of Sardis, and 12 
from Smyrna. A Christian 
church was very early plant- 
ed here , to which John was di- 
rected to write a consolatory 
and directive epistle, Rev, 
iii. 7 — 13. We can trace 
the history of Christianity in 
this country for about 800 
years. At present there are 
in it about 2000 Christians, 
formed into 5 churches. An 
Archbishop resides here, 
whose diocese extends to 
Sardis on the west and Lao- 
dicea on the east. The town 
contains about 3000 houses, 
and is now called Allah 
Schyr, or the " Fair 
City." 

PHILIP, son of Herod 
the Great, and his wife Cleo- 
patra. From him the city 
Cesarea Philippi received its 
name, Matt. xvi. 13, &c. 

2. Philip, another son 
of Herod, by his wife Mari^ 
amne. He was sometimes 
called Herod, and was the 
husband of Herodias. He 
was disinherited by his 
father, and lived a private 
life. Matt. xiv. 3, &c. 

3. Philip, one of the 
twelve apostles ; a native of 
Bethsaida in Galilee. Some 
ancient historians say that 
he was the individual, who 
requested of Jesus, that he 
might first go and bury his 
father, Matt. viii. 21, 22. 



PHI 



104 



phce 



4v Philip* one of the 
Seven deacons of the church 
&t Jerusalem* 

PHILIPP1* a city of 
Macedonia, anciently called 
Datos ; but being repaired 
by Philip, the father of Alex- 
ander the Great* it received 
its name from him. It stood 
about 70 miles north-east of 
Thessalonica. It was render 
ad famous by the defeat of 
Brutus and Cassias, in the 
neighbourhood. Here Paul 
preached about A. D. 52 ; 
and Lydia and many others 
were converted* Acts xvi. 12. 

PHILISTIA* or Pales- 
tine* is a name now given 
to the whole of Canaan ; but 
in Scripture it means only 
a narrow strip of land along 
the sea-coast» in the south- 
west of Canaan* about 40 
miles long and about 15 
miles broad. Its cities were 
Gerar* Gaza, Majuma, Aske- 
lon, Ekron, Ashdod* and 
Gath. The Philistines* and 
the Caphtorim, descended 
from Casluhim, the son of 
Mizraim, who peopled E- 
gypt ; and their country is 
perhaps called the isle or 
country of Caphtor* Jer. 
xlvii. 4. Their territory was 
allotted to the Hebrews ; but 
they neglecting to take pos- 
session of it, the Philistines 
were made a severe and 
lasting scourge to them, Josh, 
xiii. 2, 3. xv. 45, 46, 47. 
Judges iii. 1, 2, 3. 



PHILOSOPHY, the word 

literally signifies love ofwis" 
dom. In its usual accepta- 
tion, however, it denotes a 
science, or collection of 
sciences, of which all things, 
both Of body and spirit, are 
the objects. When the term 
i£ thus employed, it admits of 
various definitions. That 
part of philosophy which 
treats of God, is called the- 
ology; that which treats 
of nature* physics, or Nat- 
ural Philosophy ; and that 
which treats of man, logic, 
and Moral or Intellectual 
Philosophy. When St. Paul 
cautioned the Colossians to 
beware lest any man should 
spoil them through philoso* 
phy, (ch. ii. 8.) he did not 
mean to forbid the pursuit 
of knowledge in general; but 
to condemn that vain affec* 
tation of wisdom, which 
stood in opposition to the 
simplicity of the gospel of 
Christ ; and of which the hea- 
thens were notoriously proud. 
PHOENICIA, a province 
of Syria. It contained the 
famous cities, Sarepta, Ptole- 
mais, Tyre, and Zidon. The 
name it bears at present, 
is Tripoli. The Tyrians 
and Zidonians* had almost all 
the trade of the then known 
world. There was scarce a 
shore or Isle of the Mediter- 
ranean Sea, where they did 
not plant colonies. The most 
noted of which was that of 



PHY 



105 



PLE 



the Carthaginians, who once 
long contended with Rome. 
It is thought the Phenicians 
pushed their trade as far as 
Britain, and they probably 
had settlements on the Red 
Sea and Persian Gulf. Sir 
Isaac Newton thinks vast 
numbers of Edomites fled 
hither in the days of David, 
and caried their arts along 
with them. 

PHRYGIA, a country of 
Lesser Asia, having the 
Mediterranean Sea and Hel- 
lespont on the north-west, 
Galatia on the east, and 
Lydia on the south. The 
gospel was very early preach- 
ed in Phrygia, and a church 
settled, which for many ages 
made a considerable appear- 
ance, Acts xvi. 6. xviii. 23. 
A portion of the inhabitants 
are Christians to this day. 

PHYLACTERY, a slip 
or box of parchment on 
which was written some im- 
portant text of Scripture, 
worn by pious Jews, on their 
foreheads or arms. Oar 
Lord censures the Pharisees 
for wearing theirs very 
large and conspicuous, out 
of vain glory and hypocrisy, 
and making the use of them 
a great part of their religion. 
The custom was founded on 
the command, Ex. xiii. 16. 
and Numbers xv. 37—40, 
which was probably only 
figurative language, mean- 
ing that they should most 



carefully remember God's; 
word. But the Jews were 
apt to turn all the law into 
carnal observances. The 
passages commonly written 
on them, were Numb. xv. 41. 
Deut. vi. 6—9. Ex. xiii. 8, 
9. Ex. xiii. 14—16. and 
Deut. xi. 18—21. 

PILATE. See Pontitts. 

PISGAH, the highest top of 
that chain of mountains called 
Abarim, and a part of mount 
Nebo ; and so Moses is some- 
times said to view Canaan from 
Nebo, and sometimes from 
Pisgah. Deut. iii. 27, xxxiv. 
1. There were several fine 
springs of water at its bot- 
tom. Deut. iv. 49. 

PIS1DIA, a province of 
Lesser Asia, west of mount 
Taurus, south west of Lycao- 
nia, and north of Pamphylia. 
Its present name is Natolia. 

PISON, the name of the 
first branch of the river of 
Eden. It is supposed to be 
the western branch of the 
divided stream of the Tigris 
and Euphrates, which runs 
along the side of Havilah in 
Arabia. Gen. ii. 12, 13. 

PITHOxM and RAME- 
SES were the two cities, for 
the building of which, the 
Hebrews made brick. 

PLEDGE, a pawn which 
a lender takes from a bor- 
rower, to secure the pay- 
ment of his money. No 
millstone was ever to be 
taken in pledge; the wi<J? 



POM 



106 



PR A 



ow's ox, or a person's cloth- 
ing for body or bed, was not 
at all to be taken, or at least 
was to be restored that very 
night. No Hebrew was to 
take a pledge from a poor 
man of his own nation, 
nor to go into the borrower's 
house to take a pledge for 
himself; but the borrower 
was to bring out to him what 
could be best spared. Exod. 
xxii. 26, Deut. xxiv. 10 — 17, 
Ezek. xviii. 7—12, 16. 

PLEIADES, a beautiful 
cluster of stars, sometimes 
called The seven stars. 
They are in the constella- 
tion Taurus, and appear the 
last of March. 

PLOUGH, an instrument 
of tillage. To plough and 
look back, Luke ix. 26, is to 
make bad work, if indeed 
one could work at all. Chris- 
tians, therefore, must not 
look back on the world with 
pleasure and desire, but give 
all heed to their holy and 
blessed work. 1 Cor. ix. 10. 

POETS, such as compose 
songs or verses in metre, 
Acts xvii. 28. Homer, Pin- 
dar, Anacreon, and Sappho, 
excelled among the Greeks ; 
Virgil and Horace among 
the Latins. 

POLLUX, See Castor. 

POMEGRANATE,— a 
species of the apple tree. 
Its breadth is greater than 
its height. Its wood is hard 
and knotty; its bark red- 



dish and prickly ; its leaves, 
greenish, inclining to red; 
its blossoms large, and in 
the form of a bell. The fruit 
ripens first about August, 
and is sometimes three or 
four inches in diameter, and 
of a pound weight. It was 
esteemed one of the most 
delicious fruits in the world, 
Numb. xiii. 23, and xx. 5. 
The promegranate juice is 
frequently made into wine, 
or mixed with it, Song viii. 
2. One kind was sour, 
and was used to give a fla- 
vour to meats and liquors, 
till the juice of lemons and 
oranges superseded it. Deut. 
viii. 7, 8. Numb. xx. 5. 

PONTIUS PILATE, the 
Roman Governor of Judea, 
was in office ten years, and by 
his covetous, irresolute and 
cruel administration, made 
himself exceedingly hated, 
both by the Jews and Sama- 
ritans. At length complaints 
against him reached the 
throne of Caesar ; and he was 
sent for to Rome, tried, and 
banished to Gaul. He after- 
wards through poverty and 
shame, committed suicide, 
Matt, xxvii. &c. His depo- 
sition took place three years 
after the death of Christ, 
under the Emperor Calig- 
ula. 

PRAISE, to commend. 
To praise God, is to duly ac- 
knowledge his great excel- 
lencies. To praise men, in 




THE JEWISH HIGH PRIEST, 

As robed on the day of expiation. 

P. 107, 



PRE 



107 



PRI 



to declare their good actions 
or qualifications. 

PRAY, to entreat or ask 
earnestly with submission ; 
to appeal to the judgment 
and decision of another ; to 
intercede in behalf of others, 
and to beg that some evil 
may be averted, or some fa- 
vour or good obtained : to 
make known our desires to 
God, by offering up our pe- 
titions for things lawful and 
necessary, with a humble 
confidence to obtain them, 
through Christ's mediation 
alone, to the praise of God's 
mercy, truth, and power. 

PRAYER, a sincere of- 
fering up our earnest desires 
to God, for things lawful and 
needful, with a humble 
confidence to obtain them, 
through the meditation of 
Christ alone, to the praise of 
God's mercy, truth, and pow- 
er, Matt. vi. 6. John xvi. 
23, 24, 26. We are exhort- 
ed to pray for all men, 1 
Tim. ii. 1, and are encouraged 
to this benevolent act, James 
v. 16 ; but we must seek and 
expect the help of the Holy 
Spirit, Rom. viii. 26. The 
prayers that we direct to 
God, are the ordinary con- 
veyance of the graces which 
w T e receive from him. 

PREACH. See Gospel. 
To preach, is loudly to pro- 
claim the will of God, at his 
appointed heralds, Eph. iii. 
8. To preach in a proper 



manner, requires no small 
attention, in order that no 
fault in the pronunciation, 
the gesture, the language, 
the order, or matter, tend 
to bring the truths of the 
gospel into contempt ; or by 
feeding the carnal fancy of 
airy minds, divert them from 
the important subject. 

PRESBYTERY, a body o" 
ministers, met for ordaining 
a person, or other purposes, 
1 Tim. iv. 14. 

PRICKS, sharp points 
placed in the end of a lorn: 
staff, and used formerly {..-> 
drive oxen. Of course, i.' 
they kicked against them 
they only wounded them 
selves more deeply. 

PRIDE. 1. The high- 
ness of a mind filled with 
self-conceit, contempt of 
God, and disdain of men. 2. 
What one is proud of, a> 
power, wealth, church-or- 
dinances, and relation to 
God, &c. The haughty 
looks and words, or wick- 
ed deeds whereby a man 
discovers the pride of hi* 
heart. 

PRIEST, one who per- 
forms sacred offices. Un- 
der the Jewish law, th. 
priest offered sacrifice?., 
taught the people, and pray- 
ed for them. The high 
priest, once a year, made a- 
tonement for the sins of a-! 
the people ; but Christ is th»? 
true High Priest, who, by 



PR I 



108 



PRO 



the sacrifice of himself, 
made atonement for the sins 
of the whole world, and now 
intercedes, at the right hand 
of God, for all who believe 
on his name. Heb. vii. 17, 
ix. II, and xii. 24, 25. The 
term priest is also applied to 
every true believer, who is 
himself enabled to offer up 
spiritual sacrifices of pray- 
er and praise to God 
through Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 
ii. 5. 

PRIESTHOOD means, 1. 
The office of a priest. Numb. 
xvi. 10. Aaron's was an 
everlasting priesthood ; it 
secured to him and his seed 
the office of priest for many 
generations. Exod. xl. 15. 
Numb. xxv. IS. But Christ's 
priesthood is unchangeable, 
as it never passeth from him 
to another. Heb. vii. 24. 2. 
A class of priests : so the 
saints are an holy and royal 
priesthood ; a company of 
spiritual priests, washed in 
Jesus' blood, sanctified by 
his w T ord and Spirit, and 
all of them kings and 
priests unto God. 1 Pet. ii. 

5,9. 

PRINCE, a chief govern- 
or; a king's son. Christ is 
called the Prince of Peace, 
being the purchaser and pro- 
curer of peace between God 
and men, between men and 
men, and between Jews and 
Gentiles. Eph. ii. 15, John 
xiv. 27. He is called the 



Prince ofLife,Acts iii. 15,be- 
cause he is the Author of tem- 
poral life, in whom we live, 
move, and have our being. 
He is also called the Prince 
of the Kings of the Earth, 
Rev. i. 5, as he rules over 
all. Satan is called the 
prince of this world, be- 
cause he boasts of having all 
the kingdoms of the earth 
at his disposal. 

PROFANE, openly wick- 
ed, wanting in religious rev- 
erence to sacred names or 
things, 1 Tim. i. 9; unholy, 
or impure. 1 Tim. vi. 20. 
Esau is called profane in 
Scripture, because he sold 
his birth-right, which was a 
holy thing; not only because 
the priesthood was annexed 
to it, but also because it was 
a privilege leading to Christ, 
and a type of his title to the 
heavenly inheritance. When 
the apostle censured profane 
babblings he meant those 
heathen absurdities which 
w r ere founded in superstition 
and ignorance. 

PROMISE, an assurance 
given, by which a person 
engages to do or forbear to 
do something. God, in his 
word, promises blessings to 
his people. The fifth com- 
mandment, Honour thy fa- 
ther and mother, Eph. vi. 2, 
is called the commandment 
of promise, because God has 
added this declaration, that 
they who honour their pa- 



PRO 



109 



PRO 



rents shall have their days 
lengthened on the earth. Je- 
sus Christ has promised to 
be with his people to the 
end of the world. Matt, 
xxviii. 20. The Holy Ghost 
is called the Holy Spirit of 
promise, Eph. i. 13, being 
promised to them that be- 
lieve on Christ, and is the 
seal and pledge of their ev- 
erlasting happiness. 

PROPHECY. 1. A de- 
claration of future things. 
Neh. vi. 12. 2. A declara- 
tion of hidden, obscure, and 
important things. Prov. xxx. 
1. 3. The preaching of the 
gospel. 1 Tim.iv. 14. Rom. 
xii. 6. 4. The gift of ex- 
plaining obscure passages of 
Scripture, or of foretelling 
things to come. 1 Cor. xii. 
10, xiii. 8. 

PROPHET, one who fore- 
tels what is yet to come ; a 
person inspired and appointed 
by God to reveal his will, to 
warn of approaching judg- 
ments, to explain obscure 
passages of scripture, or to 
make known the truths of 
the Bible, and urge men to 
obedience. 1 Cor. xiv. 26. 
Jesus Christ is the great 
prophet of his church, having 
taught the will of God on 
earlh, and being now exalt- 
ed to the right hand of power 
in heaven, still teaches by 
his word and Spirit. 

About the time of Samuel 
schools of prophets were 



formed, wherein young men 
were piously educated, to» 
prepare them for receiving 
the gift of prophecy. Such 
schools we find at Bethel,. 
Gilgal, Najoth, Jericho, and 
Jerusalem, &c. which were 
inspected by Samuel, Elijah,. 
Elisha, &c. ; but it does not 
appear that all these young 
men were ever inspired, 1 
Sam. x. xi. xix. 2 Kings ii. 
Whether the most of the 
noted prophets were anoint- 
ed at their entrance on their 
office, we know not. It is 
certain they generally lived 
in a very low and temperate 
manner. The presents given 
them were such as oil, bread* 
fruits, honey. 2 Kings iv. 42. 
I Sam. ix. 7, 8. x. John 
Baptist was more than a 
prophet, as he pointed out 
Jesus Christ as already in- 
carnate, Matt. xi. 9. Paul, 
Peter, and John may be call- 
ed prophets, as there are in 
their writings a variety of 
predictions, 2 Thess, i. ii. 1 
Tim. iv. 2 Tim. iii. iv. 1 Pet. 
iv. ' 2 Pet. ii. iii. 1 John ii. 
Rev. iv.— xxii. But Jesus 
Christ is called that Prophet, 
he was infinitely superior to 
all the rest in dignity of per- 
son, in extent of knowledge, 
in high authority, and effi- 
cacious instruction, John vu 
14. 

The following is a cata- 
logue of the prophets in the 
order of fiieir succession. 



PRO 



110 



PRO 



Samuel prophecied 81 yrs. 

David " 48 " 

Elijah " 14 " 

Elisha " 58 « 

Jonah " in the reign of Jehu* 

Joel " in the reign of Uzziah. 

Amos " 26 yrs. 

Hosea " 62 " 

Isaiah " 62 « 

Micah " 40 « 

Nahum "inthereignof-fiTezeHaA.. 

Habbakkuk } in the rei S n of Josiah " 
Jeremiah " 41 yrs. 

Obadiah " in the Babylonish cap- 
tivity. 
Ezekiel " 21 yrs. 

Daniel « 69 " 

Haggai u after the Babylonish 

captivity. 
Zechariah " 2 yrs. 

Malachi " 3 yrs. and before Christ 
400 years. 

PROSELYTE, means in 
Scripture one that turned 
from Heathenism to the 
Jewish religion. Acts ii. 10. 
Some were proselytes of the 
gate, who, though they re- 
nounced idolatry, observed 
what the rabbins call the sev- 
en precepts of Noah, and at- 
tended the Jewish instruc- 
tions, yet were not circum- 
cised, nor partook of the 
passover. To these the Jews 
admitted hopes of eternal life, 
and they allowed them to 
dwell in Canaan ; and to 
them they reckoned them- 
selves allowed to sell the 
flesh of animals strangled, or 
dying of themselves. Of 
this kind of proselytes we 
suppose Naaman, Cornelius, 
the Ethiopian eunuch, and 
Solomon's one hundred and 



fifty-three thousand six hun- 
dred servants. Others were 
proselytes of righteousness, 
or, of the covenant ; obliged 
to fulfil the whole law of 
Moses. At their admission, 
their motives influencing 
them to change their reli- 
gion were examined, and 
they were instructed in the 
principles of Judaism. Next, 
if males, they were circum- 
cised, after which they pre- 
sented their oblation to the 
Lord. Whether they werealso 
dipped in water is much dispu- 
ed, and seems very doubtful. 
No boys under twelve years 
of age, or girls under thir- 
teen, were admitted, with- 
out the consent of their pa- 
rents ; or, if these refused, 
without the consent of the 
judges of the place. After 
admission, children or slaves 
were accounted free from 
the authority of their parents 
or master. Some think no 
Edomites or Egyptians could 
be admitted proselytes till 
the third generation, and the 
Ammonites or Moabites not 
till the tenth. But we sup- 
pose the exclusion only de- 
barred them from places of 
civil government. Deut. 
xxiii. 1 — 8. 

PROVIDENCE, a care 
for the future. The word is 
principally used in reference 
to that kind superintendence 
which our Heavenly Father 
exercises over his crea- 



PSA 



111 



PUB 



tures, supporting them in 
their being, and govern- 
ing them in all their ac- 
tions. 

PSALM, a holy song. The 
Psalms are particularly sweet 
to a Christian, because they 
contain so much of the ex- 
perience of a religious man. 
Most of them were composed 
by David. The 90th, was 
composed by Moses, perhaps 
the SSth by Heman, called 
the treasury of instruction. 
Those under the name of A- 
saph, were probably directed 
to him as leader of the temple 
choir. Some Psalms are doc- 
trinal, as Psalm i. ; some his- 
torical, as Psalm lxxvii. 
cv. cvi. ; some prophetic, as 
Psalm ex. ; some consist of 
prayer and complaints, as 
Psalm vi. xxxviii. &c. ; oth- 
ers consist of praise and 
thanksgiving, as Psalm cxlv. 
— cl. In some, most or all 
of these subjects are connect- 
ed, Psalm lxxxix. Whether 
the titles of the Psalms are 
of divine authority, is not 
agreed. The Hebrew words 
therein mentioned, are by 
some considered as names of 
instruments of music ; or 
first words of some songs : or 
to denote the subject-matter 
of the Psalm. We think, 
Maschil always signifies, 
that the Psalm is designed 
for instruction, Psalm xxxii. 
that Michtam denotes the 



the Psalm ; and perhaps all 
the Psalms so marked relate 
to Jesus Christ, as Gussetius 
observes. Neginoth or JVe~ 
ginath, signifies stringed in- 
struments, Ps. iv. lxi. JYe- 
hiloth, wind instruments, Ps. 
v. Gittith, a kind of instru- 
ment invented at Gath. Ps. 
viii. Mamoth, the virginals, 
or a song to be sung by vir- 
gins, Ps. xlvi. Shiggaion or 
Shigionoth, may denote, that 
the Psalm is to be sung with 
diversified tunes, or has a ve- 
ry diversified matter, Ps. vii. 
Hab. iii. 

PSALTERY, a musical in- 
strument, much used by the 
Hebrews. It was made of 
wood, with strings fixed 
thereto. It is said to have 
been of a triangular form 
with a hollow belly, and with 
strings from top to bottom, 
which being touched with 
the finger or bow, gave a 
very agreeable sound. It 
seems to have differed lit- 
tle from the harp. In 
Josephus's time, the psal- 
tery or nablion had 12 
strings. Our modern psal- 
tery is a flat instrument of a 
triangular form, strung from 
side to side, with iron or 
brass wire, and played on 
with a kind of bow. 

PTOLEMAIS, a sea-port 
in Galilee of Judea, now 
called Acre, Acts xxi. 7. 
PUBLICAN, a collector 
precious or golden nature of | of taxes. The Romans farm- 



QUI 



112 



QUI 



ed out their revenue to men 
who paid into the treasury of 
the state, a certain sum, and 
took the risk of collecting. 
Contracts were generally ta- 
ken by principal men, who 
let out small districts to in- 
dividuals, for specified sums, 
these undertaking to collect. 
Printing not being known, 
and the laws little under- 
stood, these inferior agents 
generally committed gross 
impositions, and extorted 
from the people all they 
could. They were therefore 
greatly hated by the Jews, 
whose pride was mortified 
by having to pay tribute at 
all. Matthew, Zaccheus, 
and probably other publicans, 
became disciples of Christ, 
Luke xv. 2. Matt. xxi. 31. 

PURIM,is the plural of 
Pur, and means lots. It is 
the name of a solemn least 
among the Jews, in com- 
memoration of Hainan's over- 
throw. 



PURPLE, a colour much 
worn by kings and emperors. 
It was died with the blood of 
a shell-fish ; plenty of which 
were found in the sea on the 
north-west of Canaan, and 
are still found about the 
Carribee-islands, and other 
parts of America, and even 
on the west of England. 

PUTEOLI, a city of Cam- 
pania in Italy ; so called 
from its hot waters, or the 
multitude of its wells. Its 
ancient name was Delus Mi- 
nor ; it is now called Buzzoli. 
It Ftood about 8 miles from 
Naples, and was much fre- 
quented on account of its 
mineral waters. From 

hence a considerable trade 
was carried on with Alexan- 
dria in Egypt. Paul halted 
here seven days, as he went 
prisoner to Rome, Acts xxviii. 
13. We find several of its 
bishops in the primitive 
councils of the Christian 
church. 



QUAILS, a kind of birds! alive at the resurrection, are 
of a middle size, between; called the quick, in distinc- 
gparrowsandpidgeons. They tion from those who will 



are extremely numerous in 
warm countries. 

QUICK. The living flesh, 
the sensible part of the body. 
Those persons who shall be! 



arise from the dead, Acts xii. 
42. To give spiritual life to 
sinners, is called quickening 
them, Eph. ii. 1 — 5. 



RAI 



113 



RAI 



n. 



RABBI, a name of dignity 
among the Jews, signifying 
doctor or master ; applied 
to any learned man, but es- 
pecially to a divine, or a 
teacher of their law* The 
Rabbi was ruler of the syna- 
gogue, decided all religious 
disputes, and received the 
utmost homage. Our Sa- 
viour exhorts his disciples 
not to be ambitious of gain- 
ing such distinctions and 
titles, as the Scribes and 
Pharisees sought after, but 
to look to him as their only 
lawgiver and teacher, whom 
they were to follow in all 
matters of faith and worship, 
Matt, xxiii. 7, S. 

RACA, silly fellow, or 
thou fool ; a term used by | 
the Jews to express the ut- j 
most contempt. Matt. v. 22. i 

RAIMENT— Was at first! 
made of the skins of beasts, ] 
but the art of spinning and 
weaving was soon invented, I 
and embroidering became 
common in the days of the! 
judges. The most common 
garment in the days of, 
Christ, was a sort of shirt or 
tunick, reaching to the ancles | 
generally, with sleeves, but 
sometimes having only arm- 
holes. A girdle confined it 
at the waist. Over this, 



were worn various garments* 
according to the quality of 
the person. All classes 
wore something in the form 
of a large shawl, called a 
cloak or upper garment, 
M att xxi, 8. When a person 
had nothing on but the tu- 
nick, he was said to be naked. 
John xxi. 7. Persons could 
carry various articles in the 
fold of their shawl, Luke 
vi. 38, and at night, in that 
climate, they rarely needed 
any other bedclothes, Ex. 
xxii. 26. Round this outer 
garment the ancient Jews 
were accustomed to have a 
border or fringe, sometimes 
marked with texts of Scrip- 
tures. The Pharisees through 
ostentation, made theirs re- 
markably large, Matt, xxiii. 
5. When engaged in labo- 
rious work, this outer gar- 
ment was laid aside, as our 
Saviour did, when he wash- 
en his disciples' feet, John 
xiii. 4, and Peter, when he 
fished, John xxi. 7. This 
explains, also, Matt. xxiv. 
18. These upper garments 
would of course fit persons 
of any size, equally well. 
To give raiment, was there- 
fore common ; and especial- 
ly, when opulent or eminent 
men gave rich entertain- 



RAM 



114 



RAV 



ments. In such cases, not 
to accept and put on the prof- 
fered robe, was a great af- 
front, Matt. xxii. 12. See 
Vail, Sandals, &c. 

RAIN, was plentiful in Is- 
rael twice a year, " the early 
and the latter rain" occur- 
red one in September, the 
other in March. In Egypt, 
it scarcely ever rains, the 
overflow of the Nile, and 
copious dews, answering the 
purpose. In tropical cli- 
mates, the winter is the rainy 
season. Violent winds are 
then frequent, which over- 
throw insecure houses, Matt. 
vii. 25. 

RAISINS, dried grapes. 
They are much used for food 
in many countries, and are 
considered very wholesome. 

RAM, a male sheep. (See 
Sheep.) Battering rams 
were used before the inven- 
tion of cannon, to destroy the 
fortifications of cities. This 
machine was a huge log of 
timber, with an iron head at 
one end, suspended by the 
middle to elevated poles, and 
driven violently against the 
wall, by great numbers of 
men, until a breach was af- 
fected. A shelter was erect- 
ed to defend these men from 
archers on the walls, Ezek. 
iv. 2, and xxi. 22. 

RAMAH, a city of Benja- 
min, which stood 8 miles 
northward from Jerusalem, 
Josh, xviii. 25, and being on 



a hill was visible from thence. 
Near to it Deborah dwelt, 
Judg. iv. 5. Elkanah and 
Samuel resided in it, 1 Sam. i. 
1, 19. vii. 17. viii. 4. xxv. 1 ; 
and at Najoth , or the meadows 
of Ramah, was a college of 
young prophets, 1 Sam. xix. 
There was another Ramah, 
on the west border of Naph- 
tali, Josh. xix. 36 ; also a 
Ramath or Ramoth, which 
we suppose the same as Ba- 
alath-beer, in the lot of Sim- 
eon, Josh. xix. 8. 1 Sam. 
xxx. 27. See Gilead ; and 
also a Ramoth, Remeth, or 
Jarmuth, in the lot of Is- 
sachar, Josh. xix. 21. 

RANSOM; (1.) The price 
paid for the pardon of an of- 
fence, or the redemption of 
a slave or captive, Prov. vi. 
35. Exod. xxi. 30. (2.) A 
bribe, 1 Sam. xii. 3. To pre- 
vent the plague, and make 
ceremonial atonement for 
their souls, every male He- 
brew come to age, paid half 
a shekel yearly, as a ransom, 
Exodus xxx. 12. The obe- 
dience and death of Christ 
are the only proper ransom 
and price of our deliverance 
from sin and misery, Matt. 
xx. 28. Job xxxiii. 24. 

RAVEN, a bird about the 
size of a pullet. Its colour 
very black, and its voice 
harsh and doleful. It delights 
in solitude, and lives on car- 
rion, &c. The Raven which 
Noah sent forth, did not re- 



RED 



115 



REG 



turn, probably because it 
found rest and food on the 
floating carcasses. It has by 
all nations been considered a 
disgusting and hateful bird, 
but especially so to Jews, 
whose laws pronounced it 
unclean. How striking, 
therefore, is the proof of 
God's paternal regard to all 
his creatures, derived from 
his care of this bird, Job 
xxxix. 3. He not only feeds 
the ravens, but if killed 
while their young are un- 
fledged, he cares for them. 
" He givethfood to the young 
ravens when they cry." The 
raven is a striking emblem 
of unconverted men. If the 
Lord takes care of ravens, 
how confidently may his 
people trust him. Luke xii. 
24. 

REDEEM. To buy back 
what was sold, pledged or 
forfeited, Luke i. 68. 

REDEEMER, one who 
ransoms by paying the price. 
Jesus Christ redeemed us by 
suffering in our stead the 
penalty of the Divine law, 
1 Pet. i. 19. 

REED. 1. A tall, hollow 
jointed plant, much used in 
hot countries, (where the 
plant abounds) for buildings, 
carriages, &c. &c. ; in this 
country, employed for fishing 
rods, weaver's reeds, fyc. 
2. An instrument of music 
like a flute. When our 
blessed Lord said, a bruised 



reed he would not break, it 
is not certain to which he al- 
luded, but in reference to 
either, the allusion is highly 
instructive. 3. A measure 
of 9 feet was called a reed. 

REFUGE, a place of safe- 
ty, to which a person may 
fly in case of danger. The 
Lord commanded Moses to 
appoint six cities of refuge, 
Josh. xx. 7, 8. The roads to 
which, were required to be 
58 feet wide, and kept in per- 
fect repair, with sufficient 
bridges over the streams, and 
guide boards marked Re- 
fuge, pointing the way at 
every corner. This arrange- 
ment strikingly typifies the 
Lord Jesus. God is called 
the refuge of his people, 
Deut. xxxiii. 27, as he de- 
fends them against all the as- 
saults of their enemies. Je- 
sus Christ is the only refuge 
for sinners. 

Refuges of lies, are false 
hopes, Isa. xxv. 17. 

REGENERATION, the 
new birth, or a spiritual 
change from a carnal to a 
christian life. This renova- 
tion of the soul, with all its 
affections, is affected by the 
spirit and grace of God, and 
is called the new birth. It 
consists in the infusion of 
spiritual life into the soul, 
whereby it is enabled to per- 
form spiritual actions, and 
live to God, Tit. iii. 5. It 
differs from conversion ; be- 



HEI 



116 



REP 



tause regeneration is a pow- 
er conferred, and conversion 
is the exercise of that power. 
Regeneration is the principle 
given to turn unto the Lord ; 
conversion is our actual turn- 
ing unto him : regeneration 
is the life itself, conversion 
its motion. It differs from 
justification. Justification 
acquits a man from the 
charge of guilt; regenera- 
tion imparts a new nature; 
justification is effected by 
the obedience, death, and 
resurrection of Jesus Christ ; 
but regeneration is the work 
of the Holy Ghost. It dif- 
fers from adoption. Adop- 
tion entitles to heaven, and 
regeneration is our meetness 
for its enjoyment. 

The word is also used in 
another sense, for that new 
life which is expected at the 
general resurrection, and 
restitution of all things, when 
Jesus shall sit on the throne 
of his glory, Matt. xix. 

REIGN, to rule as su- 
preme. God, who is the ab- 
solute Monarch of the world. 



the impulses of the Holy 
Spirit. 

RELIGION; the inward 
and spiritual knowledge and 
belief of divine truth. It b 
manifested in a regular ac- 
knowledgment, and obedi- 
ence to God, and in showing 
proper deference to men, 
chiefly such as are in distress, 
Jain. i. 27. 

REMPHAN, an Egyp- 
tian idol. The learned are 
very little agreed who this 
god was. Some are very pre- 
remptory, and others quite 
despair of ascertaining. The 
Israelites worshipped this 
false god, calling him chiujv. 
Amos v. 26. Probably it was 
Saturn. Acts vii. 43. 

REPENTANCE, grief for 
sin, a change of mind by 
which we wish any part of 
our conduct undone. Evan- 
gelical repentance is that 
saving grace wrought in the 
heart of a sinner by the Ho- 
ly Ghost, by which the sin- 
ner turns from a course of 
disobedience, and sincerely 
endeavours to live unblame- 



reigns in the proper sense of ably before God, in the ex 



the word, as he disposes of all 
things, in heaven and on earth. 

Sin is said to reign, when 
its motions and influences are 
readily obeyed, and it exer- 
cises an absolute, uncontroll- 
ed power in the soul, Rom. 
vi. 12. 

Grace is said to reign, I 



pectation of favour and for- 
giveness through the merits 
of Christ. Matt. iii. 2, &c. 
REPETITIONS. The vain 
repetitions blamed by our 
Saviour, Matt. vi. 9, were 
lifeless forms of prayer fre- 
quently repeated. 

REPHAIM, a valley near 



when we are governed by I Jerusalem, fruitful in corn. 



REP 



117 



RES 



Isa. xvil 5. It seems to 
have had its name from the 
giants that anciently inhab- 
ited it. Here the host of 
the Philistines encamped fre- 
quently. 1 Chron. xi. 15. 

REPHIDIM, a place east 
of the Red Sea, where the 
Hebrews tempted God, and 
quarrelled with Moses, for 
want of water: It was 
therefore called Meribah, 
contention, and Massah, 
temptation. 

REPROOF, blame charg- 
ed upon a person to his face, 
or admonition upon account 
of some fault. Reproof re- 
quires the utmost care and 
prudence in the person by 
whom it is administered, or 
it may exasperate and make 
the offender sin the more. 
Unless circumstances impe- 
riously require it, let it nev- 
er be done publickly, but al- 
ways in secret. Make it ev- 
ident that the good of the 
transgressor is the sole mo- 
tive of your censure ; that it 
is a painful task, to which 
you are urged by a sense of 
duty, and prompted by the 
most tender solicitude for his 
happiness. Let not an air 
of self-importance, an angry 
countenance, or a wrathful 
tone of expression, discover 
itself in your rebukes. You 
must feel, and you are al- 
lowed to feel ; but it is to be 
the feeling of Christianity; 
that is, pity, kindness, and 



the most sincere affection for 
the offender himself: not his 
person, but his sin, and his 
sin alone, is to be the object 
of your indignation : aotl ev- 
ery admonition should be 
accompanied with fervent 
prayer to God for his bless- 
ing to succeed your effort to 
do good. " As an ear-ring 
of gold, and an ornament 
of fine gold, so is a wise re- 
prover upon an obedient 
ear."" 

REST. 1. A ceasing from 
bodily labour. 2. The quiet- 
ness of sleep or death. 3. 
That peace with God and in 
their own consciences, which 
believers enjoy in this world, 
Matt. xi. 29, arising from a 
great composure of spirit, 
and a cheerful confidence in 
the promises and providence 
of God. Psl. cxvi. 7. 4. A 
quiet and secure habitation, 
such as was promised to the 
Israelites in the land of Ca- 
naan, which was also a type 
of .that eternal rest in the 
heavenly Canaan, where the 
saints shall enjoy a never- 
ending blessedness in the 
presence of God, after all 
their works done for his glo- 
ry on earth. Heb. iv. 9. 

RESURRECTION, the 
act of rising from the dead, 
or returning to life, and com- 
monly means the general 
resurrection at the last day, 
or the end of the world, Job 
xix. 25, xxvi. 27, John v. 



REV 



118 



RHO 



28. 29, when we must stand 
before the judgment seat of 
Christ, and be admitted to 
eternal happiness, or doomed 
to endless misery. The doc- 
trine of the resurrection was 
unknown to the wisest heath- 
ens, and is peculiar to the 
Bible. They had some glim- 
merings of the souVs immor- 
tality, but no knowledge of 
the reviving of the body. 
The resurrection of Christ 
is a clear and evident proof 
that our debt has been paid, 
and divine justice has re- 
ceived full satisfaction. On 
this doctrine of Christ's pow- 
er over death, which was 
most solemnly published to 
the world, is built our faith 
in his promises, and our hope 
of life and glory. Rom. iv. 
25. A grain of corn sown in 
the earth, is the image made 
use of by our Saviour and 
the apostle Paul to represent 
the resurrection. John xii. 
24. 1 Cor. xv. 36. 

REVEAL, to disclose. 
Christ was revealed when 
he came in the flesh. The 
wrath of God is revealed 
when sinners are made to 
suffer his open judgments. 

REVELATION, a discov- 
ery. The sacred Scriptures 
are a revelation, or disclo- 
sure of God's will to man. 
The las* - book, however, be- 
in p- the i separations of John in 
reference to futurity, is call- 
ed of itself a Revelation, from 



its containing so minute and 
ample predictions of the state 
of the church in future ages. 

REVENGE, to vent dis- 
pleasure upon a person for 
a real or imaginary fault. 
Men revenge themselves be- 
cause they are too easily of- 
fended, and too much influ- 
enced by the impulse of pas- 
sion and self-love. But when 
it is said in Scripture, that 
God revenges himself, it 
means no more than that he 
vindicates the injuries done 
to his justice and his majes- 
ty, and to the order he has 
established in the world ; the 
injuries done to his servants, 
because he is just, and order 
and justice must be preserved. 

RHEGIUM, a sea-port in 
the kingdom of Naples, a- 
bout opposite to Messina in 
Sicily. It is said to have 
been originally built by a 
colony from Chalcis. Paul 
doubtless preached here at 
his visit, Acts xxviii. 13. 
Though Luke does not record 
the fact. Its present name 
is Reggio. 

RHODES, an island of the 
Mediterranean Sea, east of 
Crete, and ranked for dignity 
and size next to Cyprus and 
Lesbos, being about 120 miles 
in circumference. It had 
its name, vJ$a$ from the mul- 
titude of roses that grew on 
it. On this island was a fa- 
mous collossal statue standing 
across the entrance of the 



RIM 



119 



RIV 



harbour. The Rhodians were 
famous about the time of the 
Trojan war. The most an- 
cient cities were Lindus, 
Camirus,Jalysus; but Rhodes 
eclipsed all the rest, and is 
still a place of note. Acts 
xxi. 1. 

RING. The wearing of 
rings is a very ancient cus- 
tom. Gen. xxiv. 22. It wa3 
an ensign of authority in 
princes and great men ; thus 
when Pharaoh committed the 
government of all Egypt to 
Joseph, he took the ring from 
his finger, and gave it to 
him. Ahasuerus gave his 
ring to his favourite Haman ; 
and granted the same favour 
to Mordecai, who succeeded 
Haman in his dignity. It is 
also used sometimes at mar- 
riages, as an emblem of con- 
jugal fidelity, and a constant 
memorial of the marriage 
vow. 

RIMMON, or Remmon ; 

1. A city belonging to the 
Simeonites, about 25 miles 
south-west of Jerusalem, 
Josh. xix. 7. Neh. xi. 29. 

2. JRemmon-niethoar, a city 
of Zebulun given to the 
Levites, Joshua xix. 3. 1 
Chron. vi. 77. 3. A steep 
rock near Gibeah, whither 
600 Benjamites fled when 
the rest of their tribe was 
destroyed, Judg. xx. 45. 4. 
A principal idol of the Syri- 
ans, worshipped at Damascus. 
The name signifies eleva- 



tion; but whether that idol 
be the Elion, or Most High 
of the Phenicians, or Saturn, 
or Venus, is not agreed. Per- 
haps he was none of all these, 
but Jupiter Cassius. 

RIGHTEOUSNESS, 1. 
That upright life and convex* 
sation, which proceed from 
a pious disposition, inclining 
us to render the worship due 
to God, and be just in our deal- 
ings with all men. It signi- 
fies, also, 2. That perfection 
of the divine nature, where- 
by God is most holy in him- 
self, and most just in all his 
dealings with his creatures. 
3. The active and passive 
obedience of Christ. Christ 
is called the Lord our right- 
eousness, as being the pro- 
curer and bestower of all the 
righteousness and holiness 
which believers possess. 

RIVER, a large stream of 
water. The rivers mention- 
ed in Scripture are the Jor- 
dan, Kishon, Jabbok, and 
Arnon in Canaan; the Nil* 
in Egypt, together with the 
Abana and Pharpar; the 
Euphrates, Hiddikel, Gihon, 
Pison, Chebar, Ahavah, and 
Ulai. " From the river to 
the ends of the earth," means 
from the Euphrates to the 
end of the then known world. 
No river in Palestine with- 
stands the drought of summer 
but the Jordan, and that be- 
comes greatly diminished. 
The others, though impetu- 



ROM 



120 



ROO 



ous torrents in the rainy 
season, become mere rivulets 
in summer, and sometimes 
wholly disappear. Hence 
Job compares his friends to 
such. Job vi. 15. 

ROBE, see Raiment. 
Jesus's imputed righteous- 
ness is a robe: when imput- 
ed to us, it beautifies, warms, 
and protects our souls, Isa. 
Ixi. 10. 

ROCK GOAT, the same 
as the Ibex, of which a good 
representation is given in the 
picture. Its size is less than 
the common wild goat. The 
horns are of extraordinary 
size, bending back over the 
animal's body, sometimes to 
the length of three feet. 
Like other goats it is pecu- 
liarly adapted for climbing, 
and delights in the most rug- 
ged mountains staying at 
great elevation. Psl. civ. 8. 
1 Sam. xxiv. 2. 

ROME, for a long time the 
most noted city of the world. 
It was built by the Etrurians, 
and enlarged by Romulus,and 
a number of men little better 
than banditti, under his di- 
rection, about A. M. 3254, 
that is, about the time of 
Hezekiah, king of Judah. 
It gradually increased, till it 
extended over seven hills. 
The river Tiber runs through 
it, affording water to the 
city, and carrying off the 
filth which is conveyed to 
it by sewers under ground. 



Its walls never seem to have 
been above thirteen miles in 
circumference ; but it had a 
vast extent of suburbs. In 
the time of Romulus, it con- 
tained about 3000 inhabitants, 
and in the time of Augus- 
tus, two millions. At pres- 
ent, they scarcely amount to 
200,000: and no more than 
about the third part even of 
what is within the walls is in- 
habited. It is now noted for 
multitudes of ancient ruins, 
and for St. Peter's Church, 
which was 100 years in 
building, and the Vatican, or 
winter palace of the Pope, 
which consists of about 12,500 
chambers, halls, and closets, 
and has a famed library, gar- 
den, and arsenal. Its hos- 
pitals are under excellent 
regulation ; but the inhabi- 
tants are licentious to an un- 
common degree. 

While the Romans govern- 
ed a great part of the world, 
they either for money or 
good deeds, or of free favour, 
conferred the right of citi- 
zens on such as were not 
of their nation, and even 
sometimes on the inhabitants 
of a whole city. In this 
sense, Paul and Silas were 
Romans, having a legal title 
to all the privileges of the 
citizens of Rome, by having 
been born in a free city. 
Acts xvi. 37, 38. xxii. 25, 
26, 27. 

ROOF, the covering of a 




THE ROCK GOAT. 



P. 120. 




THJC SCORPION. 



P. 127. 



SAB 



121 



SAB 



house. The Jews had theirs 
flat for walking, or erecting 
booths on, and a battlement 
breast high around, to pre- 
vent any body falling from 
them. As this rendered 
them private places, they oft 
performed their devotions on 
them. Acts x. 9. 

ROSE. From the frequent 
connextion of the lily with 
this flower, when spoken of 
in Scripture, it seems evident 
the wild rose must be meant 
which in all hot countries is 
extremely beautiful. The 
rose is the queen of flowers, 
and its perfume more exqui- 
site than any other. Christ 
is compared to it, Song ii 
1. The wilderness shall 
blossom as the rose, when 
Christianity restores this wil- 
derness world to order and 
beauty. Isa. xxxv. 1. 



ROUGH, coarse, rugged, 
uneven. By the powerful 
preaching of John the Bap- 
tist, the rough places were 
made plain, that is, people of 
the most ignorant and harden- 
ed description were through 
Divine Grace humbled, and 
prepared to receive the full 
truths of Christ's mission and 
ministry. Luke iii. 5. 

RUBY, a precious stone 
of a colour somewhat red. 
It is of great hardness and 
lustre, seldom found larger 
than a grape seed, and al- 
most equal in value to the 
diamond. Job xxviii. 18. 

RUNNERS, persons who 
ran before the king's chariot, 
or bore messages in haste. 
They were employed partic- 
ularly to carry tidings to the 
provinces, of the enactment 
of any edict or law. 



S. 



SABBAOTH, one of the 

names of God, signifying 
hosts or armies, whether of 
heaven or earth, of angels or 
ministers ; who are all under 
his control, performing his 
will. 

SABBATH, this word 
means rest. When God 



had made the heavens and 
the earth, in the space of six 
days, he rested on the 
seventh, and ordered it to be 
observed as a day set apart 
for himself, or occupied in 
the exercises of religion. 
Though it was really the 
seventh day to God, to man 



SAB 



122 



SAC 



who was formed on the eve- 
ning of the last day, it was 
the first, and was kept as 
such, for ages, though called 
the seventh part of time. 
Gen. ii. 2, 3. In the first 
institution of the Sabbath, it 
was intended to call to mind 
the w r isdom, power, and good- 
ness of God, as they are dis- 
played in the creation of the 
world : — but after the return 
of the children of Israel from 
their state of servitude and 
hard bondage in Egypt, that 
was urged as an additional 
object of recollection on the 
Sabbath-day : and also, as an 
additional motive to its ob- 
servance. The day was at 
the same time changed, to 
correspond with that memo- 
rable event, and to preserve 
the Hebrews more effectual- 
ly from idolatry, by making 
their day of worship different 
from that of the heathen. 
Deut. v. 14, 15. Under the 
Christian dispensation, the 
Sabbath is altered back again 
from the seventh to the first 
day of the week, on which 
the Redeemer himself rose 
from the dead. On the first 
day of the week, Jesus Christ 
made repeated visits to his 
disciples, who were evidently 
assembled together for reli- 
gious purposes, John xx. 
On the first day of the week, 
the disciples came together 
to break bread and hear Paul 
preach, Acts xx. 7. Upon 



the first day of the week, 
the Corinthians were requir- 
ed to lay by their contribu- 
tions for the poor, 1 Cor. xvi. 
2. And the first day of the 
week is called the Lord's 
day, Rev. i. 10. The Sab- 
bath is to be sanctified, by a 
cessation from all worldly 
affairs ; by a remembrance 
of God in creation, provi- 
dence, and redemption ; by 
meditation, prayer, reading 
the Scriptures, and attending 
public worship. It is to be a 
day of holy anticipation of 
that eternal Sabbath which 
remains for the people of 
God. 

SACBUT, a musical in- 
strument, generally thought 
to have had four strings, but 
Isidore considers it a kind of 
flute or hautboy. 

SACKCLOTH, was a 
coarse cloth, made of the hair 
of horses, and coarsest hair of 
camels and goats. It was the 
common clothing of very 
poor people, and was much 
used for tents, awnings, &c. 
Elijah and John the Baptist 
wore such ; indeed, it was 
anciently very common for 
all prophets to be thus hum- 
bly clad. Hence, the false pro- 
phets wore "a rough garment 
to deceive," Zech. xiii. 4. 
It was also used by mourners, 
being of a black colour, Isa. 
1.3. 

SACRIFICE, an offering 
made on an altar to God, by 



SAD 



123 



SAL 



a regular priest ; an oblation 
meant only the simple offer- 
ing of a gift. The justice of 
God required the death of 
the offender ; but, being tem- 
pered with mercy, it accept- 
ed a sacrifice in his stead. 
All the sacrifices, with their 
several ceremonies, were 
either arguments and con- 
victions of sin, or images of 
of the punishment due to it; 
and had a relation to Christ, 
the gospel sacrifice, in whom 
all the shadows had their ful- 
filment. They signified the 
expiation of moral guilt by 
the sacrifice of Christ, who 
is called the Lamb of God, 
John i. 29, and the Lamb 
slain from the foundation of 
the world, Rev. xiii. 8. 

SADDUCEES, a sect a- 
mong the Jews, founded by 
Sadoc, who denied the being 
of angels and spirits, the im- 
mortality of the soul, and the 
resurrection of the body. 
They are accused, though 
not with good proof, of re- 
jecting all the books of Scrip- 
ture, except the five books of 
Moses. They were strict 
observers of the law them- 
selves, and enforced it upon 
others ; but, contrary to the 
Pharisees, they kept only to 
the simple text of the law, 
without traditions, explana- 
tions, or modifications, and 
maintained, that only what 
was written was to be ob- 
served. The Sadducees were 



generally persons of wealth 
and influence. Among the 
modern Jews, there are 
few, if any, nominal Saddu- 
cees; but infidelity prevails 
among them to a dreadful 
extent. 

SAINT, means any person, 
who spends much time in reli- 
gious exercises, and is emi- 
nent for piety, and zealous in 
the cause of God, Psalm xvL 
3. Heb. vi. 10. The word 
is applied to those blessed 
spirits, whom God gracious- 
ly admits to partake of ever- 
lasting glory and blessedness, 
Rev. xviii. 24 ; and to the 
hoiy angels, Deut. xxxiii. 2.' 
Jude 14. 

SALT, a mineral dug from 
the earth, or obtained by 
evaporating sea water. It 
was often obtained by the 
Jews from salt lakes, 
where an upper crust, long 
exposed to rain and sun 
might lose its relish, Matt. v. 
It was appointed to be used 
in all the sacrifices that were 
offered to God, Lev. ii. 13. 
It is the symbol of wisdom, 
friendship, and incorruption, 
Col. iv. 6. When our Sa- 
viour told his disciples that 
they were the salt of the 
earth ; he meant, that being 
themselves endued with 
grace, they ought to season 
others, and preserve them 
from corruption. The truths 
of the Gospel are in opposi- 
tion to the corruption of th# 



SAL 



124 



SAM 



world, both in respect to 
doctrine and morals. 

SALOME, the wife of 
Zebedee, and the mother of 
James and John. She fool- 
ishly begged that her two 
sons might have principal 
posts in his temporal kingdom. 
SALUTE. To address 
with civility. The forms of 
salutation vary exceedingly 
in different countrfes. A- 
mong Orientals, so much 
ardour is expressed, and so 
long a ceremony used, as 
would, in our eyes, make 
them ridiculous. When an 
Arab meets his friend he be- 
gins, yet afar off, to make 
gestures indicative of recog- 
nition. On coming up, he 
shakes hands, then kisses his 
hand, inquires concerning his 
friend's health, and that of his 
family, with great minute- 
ness. All this is of course 
done by the other. Some- 
times the beard is reverently 
kissed. When they separate, 
to pass on, each pronounces 
a solemn benediction, as " the 
blessing of Jehovah be with 
you," &c. The later Jews 
were more moderate than 
their neighbouring nations, 
and used different degrees of 
homage, according to the 
person and the occasion. A 
bow of the head was the com- 
mon civility, to bend the 
body, indicated more aspect, 
and to lay down the face on 
the ground signified the 



highest reverence. Jacob 
bowed himself seven times 
to the ground, when he met 
Esau, Gen. xxxiii. When 
the Prophet sent his servant 
in great haste, to raise the 
dead child, he forbade him to 
salute any one, or answer 
any salutation, because of the 
time it would occupy, 2 
Kings iv. 29. And our Sa- 
viour exonerated the 70 dis- 
ciples from such unmeaning- 
waste of time, Luke x. 4. 
This was the more necessary, 
as presents commonly form 
a part of oriental salutation, 
Gen. xliii. 11. 1 Sam. x. 
Mai. i. 8. When Saul was 
recommended to seek Sam- 
uel's aid, he thought it utter- 
ly improper to speak to him, 
because he had no bread to 
offer, and went, when he 
found they had a quarter 
shekel, that is twelve and a 
half cents, 1 Sam. ix. 7. So 
small a present, was evident- 
ly not intended for pay. A 
flower, or an orange is suf- 
ficient to satisfy custom. 

SAMARIA. 1. The coun- 
try of the Ephraimites, or ten 
tribes. In the New Testa- 
ment, it always signifies the 
territory between Judea and 
Galilee. 2. The seat of gov- 
ernment of the ten tribes, 
built by Omri, A. M. 3080, 
forty-two miles north of Jeru- 
salem. After vario us sieges, 
&c. during several ages, it 
was at last laid in complete 



SAM 



125 



SAN 



ruins, by Shalmenezer. Al- 
exander the great, establish- 
ed a colony of Macedonians 
there. About the year 3947, 
Gabinius, a Roman Governor 
of Syria, improved it, and 
subsequently Herod the 
great restored it to magnifi- 
cence, and called it Sebaste. 
For several hundred years 
after Christ, Samaria contin- 
ued to be an important city. 

SAMARITAN, a citizen 
of Samaria. Shalrnanezer re- 
moved many of the ten tribes 
to Babylon : — he sent in their 
place Babylonians. These 
intermarried with the re- 
maining Hebrews, and their 
descendants were the Sa- 
maritans. Between these 
and the pure Jews there was 
a constant jealousy and ha- 
tred. John iv. The name 
was used by the Jews as a 
term of the greatest reproach. 
John viii. 48. The Samari- 
tans, like the Jews, lived in 
the expectation of Messiah, 
and many of them embraced 
him when he appeared. John 
iv. Acts viii. 1, and ix. 31. 
Theyre^ided chiefly inDamas- 
cus, Gaza, at Grand Cairo, Na 
plouse, and Jaffa, in great pov- 
erty and degradation. At pre- 
sent, the Samaritans, though 
few in number, pretend to 
great strictness in their ob- 
servation of the law of Mo- 
ses, and account the Jews in- 
tolerably lax. From the let- 
ter of their high priest to Jo- 
M 



seph Scaliger, above one 
hundred and eighty years 
ago, and which was in the 
library of the French king, 
it appears that they profess to 
believe in God, and in his ser* 
vant Moses, and in the holy 
law, the mount Gerizzim, the 
house of God, and the day 
of vengeance and peace. 
They keep the Sabbath so 
strictly, that they will not 
move out of their place, ex- 
cept to their synagogue. 
They always circumcise 
their children on the eighth 
day of their birth. They do 
not marry their own nieces, 
nor allow a plurality of wives, 
as the Jews do. Their high 
priest still resides at Shechem, 
or Naplouse. 

SAMOON. See Winds. 
SAMOS, an Island of the 
Mediterranean Sea, nine 
miles south west of the coast 
of Lydia in Asia Minor. 
The inhabitants chiefly wor- 
shipped Jujlo, who was said 
to have been born there. It 
is now inhabited by the 
Greeks, who are very poor, 
and who, though nominally 
Christians, are sunk in igno- 
rance and superstition. Here 
Pythagoras was born, and 
here Lycurgus died. 

SAMOTHRACIA, a small 
island about twenty miles in 
circumference, laying on the 
east of Thrace. Its present 
name is Samandraki. 

SANCTIFY. 1. To set 



SAR 



126 



SAV 



apart any person or thing to 
a religious use. 2. To cleanse 
a sinner from the pollution 
of sin, to free him from its 
dominion, and make him ho- 
]y by enduing him with a. 
principle of holiness, which is 
the grace of God. 1 Cor. vi. 11. 

SANDALS, soles of leath- 
er or wood, tied to the feet 
with strings. As these af- 
forded the traveller no pro- 
tection from dust, it was al- 
ways a necessary act of hos- 
pitality to have the feet of a 
guest washed before he could 
retire to bed. 

SAPPHIRE, a jewel, 
which in its finest state is 
second in value only to the 
diamond. It is of a pure 
blue colour ; and the finest 
are of a deep azure. The 
best sapphires come from 
Pegu in the East Indies ; and 
next are those of Bohemia 
and Silesia. It was the sec- 
ond stone in the high priest's 
breast- pi ate. 

SARD1S, a town at the 
foot of Mount Tmolus, ten 
hours' ride south of Thyatira. 
It was the capital of Lydia, 
celebrated for its opulence 
and debauchery. Here the 
famous Croesus lived. Ac- 
cording to the Lord's threat, 
•he candlestick here has been 
moved cut of its place. No 
( faristian church now ex- 
ists, and few Christians (in 
name) reside here. It is 
now called Sart. 



SARDINE, or Sardius, 
a precious stone of a reddish 
or bloody colour. The best 
come from about Babylon. It 
was the sixth foundation of 
the New Jerusalem, and the 
first jewel in the high-priest's 
breast-plate. 

SADONYX. SeeOnyx. 

SAREPTA. See Zare- 

PATH. 

SATAN, the prince of 
hell. The name is Hebrew, 
and means enemy, for the 
devil is the enemy of God 
and man. Much of man's 
wickedness may be ascribed' 
to him. See instances, Gen. 
iii. Job i. 2 Sam. xii. 
Kings xxii. Acts v. 5. He 
is called the god of this world, 
for his power in it. Uncon- 
verted persons are said, Acts 
xxvi. 18, to be under his 
influence. 

SAVE, to preserve from 
danger, or from eternal 
death ; to deliver from the 
guilt, or the power of sin, 
Matt. i. 21. Jesus Christ 
saves his people from sin, 
and from destruction ; and 
having merited their salva- 
tion by his death, he applies 
the purchased redemption, 
by shedding abroad the Holy 
Ghost into their hearts. 

SAVOUR, the smell or 
taste of any thing. The an- 
cient sacrifices were of a 
sweet savour unto God ; he 
accepted of, and delighted in 
them, as typical of the obe- 



SCH 



127 



SCO 



dience and suffering of Christ, 
Gen. viii. 21. Eph. v. 2. 
SCEPTRE, a staff, or wand, 
signifying royalty. Ancient- 
ly kings were shepherds, and 
hence probably this badge 
took its origin. Ez. xix. 11. 
Esther vii. 4. The rod of the 
wicked, Psl. cxxv. 3, means 
their power and influence. 

SCHOOL, a place of in- 
struction. Each parent is, 
by the obvious law of na- 
ture, bound to educate his 
child according to his station. 
The association of a num- 
ber of parents to procure a 
person who shall devote his 
whole mind and time to this 
subject, seems not to have 
been known in the early pe- 
riods of the world. We read 
of schools for the prophets 
in the days of Saul. 1 Sam. 
xix. 18—24. About the 
time of Christ, eminent doc- 
tors delivered stated instruc- 
tions, which were attended 
by the studious whether 
priests or others. Paul was 
in this manner educated by 
Gamaliel, the most celebra- 
ted Rabbi of his time. Acts 
xxii. 3. Each great teacher 
had, of course, his peculiar 
views. Such as fully adopt- 
ed these, called him Father 
or Master, and themselves 
children. The exhortation, 
Call no man on earth Fa- 
ther, means that we are not 
to give ourselves up, implic- 
itly to any one great doctri- 



nal leader, but examine for 
ourselves. Matt, xxiii. 9. 

SCORPION, a reptile of fa- 
tal venom, found in most hot 
countries, and so malicious 
as to be constantly striking 
at every object within reach. 
In Africa some grow to the 
size of a very small lobster, 
which they resemble in 
shape, as will be seen by 
the picture. In general, 
they do not exceed three or 
four inches in length. The 
sting is in the tail. It has 
eight legs, and four eyes, — 
perhaps more. The south 
border of Judea, and the de- 
sert between that and Egypt 
was much infested with them. 
Deut. viii. 15. Numb, xxxiv. 
4. Wicked men are called 
scorpions. Rev. ix. 5. The 
statements of some authors 
that the only cure for its bite 
is to crush the reptile on the 
wound, that the young ones 
instantly kill their mother, 
&c. are absurd. The folly 
and cruelty of Rehoboam in 
threatening to rule Israel as 
with scorpions, is very strik- 
ing. What father would give 
his child such a reptile, when 
it asked of him an egg? 
Luke xi. 12. The complete 
security of Christ's followers 
is forcibly seen when he 
gives them power to tread on 
scorpions unharmed. Luke 
x. 

SCOURGE, a whip, a lash ; 
an instrument of discipline 



SCR 



128 



SCR 



or punishment In the pun- 
ishment of the scourge, the 
offender was stripped from 
his shoulders to his waist, 
and tied by his arms to a low 
pillar, that he might lean for- 
ward, for the convenience of 
the executioner. The law 
directed them not to exceed 
forty stripes ; and the Jews, 
in order to prevent the com- 
mand being broken, always 
limited the number of lashes 
to thirty and nine. Deut. 
xxv. 2, 3. When the scourge 
had three lashes, as was 
common, thirteen blows 
made out the forty stripes 
save one. This was done to 
Paul five times. 2 Cor. xi. 
24. 

SCRIBE, among the Jews, 
one who taught and explain- 
ed the Scriptures. Our Sa- 
viour classes the scribes with 
prophets and wise men. The 
estimation in which they 
were held by the people ap- 
pears in Matt. xvii. 10, Mark 
xii. 35, &c. The perversion 
of the Scriptures, and the in- 
jury done to true religion by 
the traditions of these inter- 
preters and preachers of the 
law, may be gathered from 
the appropriate answer and 
severe rebuke, which Christ 
gave to their obtrusive ques- 
tion, Matt. xv. 2, 3, &c. 
Our Saviour gave various in- 
stances of their irregular and 
unjust dealings, as Mat. xxiii. 
2, 3, 4, &c. He, therefore, 



on the mountj warns his aU* 
dience of the dangers they 
were exposed to from such 
teachers* Matt. v. 20. The 
copies of sacred Scripture 
were written by the scribes, 
printing being then unknown. 
They existed as a separate 
class of men as early as the 
days of Deborah. Most of 
them were of the tribe of 
Levi. 

SCRIP, a bag or purse. 
According to its size, &c. it 
was used for food or for mo- 
ney. 

SCRIPTURE, that which 
is written. The Old and 
New Testaments, which 
contain the whole will of 
God necessary to be known 
for our salvation, are called 
the scriptures or the writ- 
ings, the Bible or the book, 
by way of eminence, be- 
cause they far excel all oth- 
er writings. Though writ- 
ten by divers men at differ- 
ent times, yet they all agree, 
as if written by one man. 
All Scripture is given by in- 
spiration of God, 2 Tim. iii. 
and is profitable for doc- 
trine, to declare and confirm 
the truth; for reproof to 
convince of sin and confute 
errors ; for correction, to re- 
form the life ; and for in- 
struction in righteousness, 
that is, to teach us to make a 
further progress in the way 
to heaven, or to instruct us 
in the true righteousness re- 



SEA 



129 



SEL 



vealed by the gospel of Je- 
sus Christ, in which we may 
appear with comfort before 
God. 

SCYTHIA. No country 
under this name, and em- 
bracing the same territory, 
now exists. It embraced 
Tartary, Asiatic Russia, the 
Crimea, Poland, part of Hun- 
gary, Lithuania, Sweden, 
Norway, and the northern 
parts of Germany. Col. hi. 
11. 

SEA, a large collection of 
waters. The Jews, Arabs, 
and others, call large lakes 
seas ; thus the lake of Gen- 
nesareth, which is but thir- 
teen miles in length, and 
five in breadth, is called the 
Sea of Tiberias, or the Sea 
of Galilee. It is formed by the 
Jordan,and abounds with fish. 
Mat. iv. 18. Johnvi. 1. The 
Salt Sea, Dead Sea, or Sea of 
Sodom, is the lakeAsphar or 
Asphaltites, at the south end 
of Jordan, about 24 miles in 
length, and six or seven in 
breadth. It spreads over the 
place of Sodom, Gomorrah, 
Admah, and Zeboim ; and it 
is asserted by some, that the 
ruins of these cities are still 
seen under the water when 
it is low. The Great Sea is 
the Mediterranean, which is 
about three thousand miles 
in length. It is called the 
Hinder Sea, w r hile the Dead 
Sea is called the Former 
Sea. The Bed Sea is that 



arm of the Indian Ocean 
which runs along the south 
west side of Arabia, and the 
east of Ethiopia and Egypt, 
to the length of near twelve 
hundred miles. As the E- 
domites had long the proper- 
ty and use of it for their 
shipping, it came to be call- 
ed the Sea of Edom, which 
the Greeks translated into 
the Red Sea, Edom signify- 
ing red. Hence originates 
the mistake, that its water, 
or its bottom, was reddish. 

SEARED, burnt off, or 
burnt hard, as flesh is with 
a hot iron. Men have their 
conscience seared, when it 
is so stupified with the load 
of unpardoned guilt, and pow- 
er of inward corruption, that 
it sticks at nothing, however 
horrid and abominable, and 
so is as bad as no conscience 
at all. 1 Tim. iv. 2. 

SECT, a party or number 
of persons united together 
under some particular lead- 
er, or who profess the same 
tenets or opinions. Among 
the Jews, in the time of our 
Saviour, we find the sects of 
Pharisees, Sadducees, Esse- 
nes, and Herodians. 

SELAH, a word of doubt- 
ful import. Some supposed 
it marks the beginning of a 
new paragraph ; others that 
it indicates an elevation of 
voice. It is probably no 
more than a nota-bene, call- 
ing for particular attention. 



SEP 



130 



SER 



SELEUCIA. There were 
several cities of this name in 
Asia. One in Mesopotamia, 
now called Bagdad, The 
Scripture mentions only that 
of Syria, near the river 
Orontes, which was built by 
Seleucus Nicator, the first 
Syro-Grecian monarch. Here 
Paul and Barnabas embark- 
ed for Cyprus. Acts xiv. 4. 

SENSE means 1, that fac- 
ulty of a living creature 
whereby it receives the im- 
pression of material objects. 
2. The impression of an ob- 
ject upon the senses. 3. 
Meaning or import. 4. Corn- 
men sense, or those general 
notions arising in the minds 
of men, by which they ap- 
prehend or understand things 
after the same manner. 

SEPHARVAIM, or Sep- 
harvites, a tribe of the Sa- 
maritans. 

SEPULCHRE, a place for 
receiving the dead. Every 
vault, tomb or grave, may be 
termed a sepalchre. The 
Jews invariably placed them 
without the cities, as they al- 
ways should be, on account 
of the noxious effluvia rising 
from them. The royal fam- 
ily only was buried in Jeru- 
salem. 2 Chron. xxiv. 16. 
Natural caves were often 
used for interment ; and in 
these thieves and lunatics 
sometimes resided. Hence 
the grave is called a pit. 
Ps. lxxxviii. 3—12. Our Sa- 



viour's sepulchre was hewn 
out of a rock ; and the door 
being sealed, it was impossi- 
ble he should be stolen with- 
out the knowledge of the 
guards. 

SERAPHIM, or Fiery 
ones, an order of heavenly 
beings, of the distinct charac- 
ter of which we know nothing. 

SERPENT. There are 
many kinds of serpents. The 
only remarkable kind men- 
tioned in Scripture is the fly- 
ing serpent. They were 
called fiery from their colour 
and their venom. Isa. xxx. 
6. Several profane authors 
mention serpents found in 
the east, with wings, like a 
bat. See Adder and Cock- 
atrice. 

SERVANT. The He- 
brews had several kinds of 
servants. 1. The slaves for 
life, who were strangers 
bought, or taken in war. 
Lev. xxv. 44, &c. 2. He- 
brew slaves or bond -servants, 
who could only at the first 
beJiound six years, and then 
were to be dismissed with 
presents. Slavery was com- 
mon before the flood ; and 
some of the patriarchs, as 
Job, and Abraham, appear 
to have owned thousands, 
though they seem to have 
been treated with great ten- 
derness, and often to have 
wages and high character. 
Among the Romans they 
were often branded^ for se 



SHE 



131 



SHE 



curity ; but this was forbid- 
den to the Jews. 

SERVE, to labour, do 
work for, or help a person in 
any employment; to attend 
or wait upon a person, in or- 
der to obey and assist liim. 
To serve God is to obey him, 
not only by worshipping - him, 
as required, in spirit and in 
truth, but also by studying 
to know and do his will, on 
all occasions, however op- 
posed to our depraved incli- 
nations, or at variance with 
our temporal interests. 

SHEBA, or Seba. There 
were several of this name; 
the 1st was the son of Cash, 
who gave the name 10 a 
country in Arabia, Genesis 
x. 7. Psalm lxxii. 10. 2. 
The grandson of Cush, Gen. 
x. 7. 3. The son of Joktan, 
Gen. x. 28. 4. The grand- 
son of Abraham, Gen. xxv. 3. 
All these seem to have taken 
up their residence in Arabia, 
and perhaps most of them in 
the south part of it. One or 
more of these Shebas gave 
name to the country, whose 
queen came to visit Solomon, 
and brought him large pre- 
sents of gold, spices, and pre- 
cious stones; but whether 
this Sheba was situated in 
Arabia the Happy, or in A- 
byssinia, is doubtful. 5. The 
son of Biehri, a Jew, who 
headed a revolt in the reign 
of David, 2 Sam. xx. 6. The 
name of a famous well, some- 



times called Sheba, and some- 
times Beersheba. Gen. xxvi. 
33. 

SHEEP, a well known an- 
imal, of the greatest utility, 
and famed for meekness and 
cleanliness. In oriental 
countries, the broad tailed 
species prevails, which part, 
consisting chiefly of fat, and 
often weighing 12 or 15 
pound?, was commanded to 
be offered in sacrifice to God, 
Lev. iii. 9. The wealth of an- 
cient Kings, and other great 
men, consisted chiefly in 
flocks and herds, 2 Kings 
iii. 4 ; and this is still the 
case in some eastern coun- 
tries, especially where the 
people are few T , and pastures 
luxuriant. Christians are 
compared to sheep, for their 
innocence and excellence. 
Christ is God's lamb, that is, 
the great atoning sacrifice, 
John i. 29. 

SHEKEL, a weight a- 
mong the Hebrews, but its 
precise heaviness is not a- 
greed on ; the probability is, 
that the common shekel was 
about a half dollar, and the 
shekel of the sanctuary 
double that sum. 

SHEW, or SHOW, an ap- 
pearance or pretence ; also 
any public sight. Shew- 
bread, in the Hebrew idi- 
om, signifies the bread of 
faces. Twelve loaves, ac- 
cording to the twelve tribes, 
were, every Sabbath day, 



SHI 



132 



SHI 



put upon the golden table, 
to be exposed for the whole 
week, when the stale loaves 
were removed and the new 
ones supplied. The bread 
was forbidden to be eaten 
by an Y> except the priests ; 
therefore in the extraordina- 
ry case of David, nothing but 
urgent necessity could ex- 
empt him from sin, 1 Sam. 
xxi. Matt. xii. 4. Christ 
made a shew of principali- 
ties and powers, Col. ii. 15, 
when he openly triumphed 
over them on his cross. To 
make a fair shew in the 
fltsh, is to be hypocritical by 
carefully observing outward 
fOrms,while real piety at heart 
is not sought. 

SHIELD, an instrument 
of defence, held on the left 
arm* to ward off blows. Jn 
Scripture, God is often call- 
ed the shield of his people. 
Princes and great men are 
called shields, because they 
ought to be the protectors of 
their people, Psalm xlvii. 9. 
Faith is likewise called a 
shield, Eph. vi. 16, because 
it derives strength from 
Christ for overcoming the 
temptations of Satan. 

SHIGGAION. A word 
found in the title of the 
geyenth psalm.. It comes 
from a Hebrew word, which 
signifies to stray, or wander ; 
whence some conjecture, 
that it denotes the song to 
fre various, running from one 



kind of tune into another, 
and expressive of great an- 
guish of heart. 

SHILOH. 1. One of the 
names of Jesus Christ. The 
great Deliverer ; he that 
frees from the law, sin, and 
death, Gen. xlix. 10. It de- 
notes the Redeemer, the 
author of our happiness, and 
our sole peace-maker with 
God. 

2. Shii.oh, a famous city 
of the tribe of Ephraim, about 
25 miles north of Jerusalem. 
Here Joshua fixed the tab- 
ernacle of God ; and here it 
continued at least 310 years. 

SHIPS. Probably Noah's 
ark gave the first origin to 
shipping. The tribes of Zeb- 
ulon and Dan appear to have 
early engaged in commerce. 
Gen. xlix. 13. Judges v. 17. 
Solomon, and after him Je- 
hoshaphat, set on foot a con- 
siderable trade by shipping, 
1 Kings x. xx. The Trojans 
were early powerful at sea; 
but the Tyrians and Sidoni- 
ans for many ages were much 
more so. The Greeks were 
also in their turns famous by 
sea- After the Saracens had 
ruined the Grecian com- 
merce, the Venetians and 
Genoese became famous in 
that way. About 280 years 
ago, the Spaniards and Por- 
tuguese became the most 
commercial people. Then 
the Dutch took the lead ; 
but at present the English 



SHO 



133 



SHU 



conduct more business by 
sea than any other nation. 

SHITTIM WOOD, much 
used in building the Taber- 
nacle, and in making the 
sacred utensils, &c. But 
not now known exactly, as to 
what kind of tree it was. 
Most probably it was the 
Acanthus, or Acacia vera, 
which grows plentifully in 
the Arabian desert, in Egypt 
and around Suez. It is about 
the size of a mulberry tree, 
the bark of a greyish black — 
wood pale yellow, and very 
hard, the branches thorny — 
flowers globular. Both the 
wood and the flowers have 
a v*,ry pleasant smell. From 
this tree is obtained the Gum 
Arabic, by making a gash 
with an axe. Its leaves are 
almost the only food for cam- 
els travelling in the great 
desert. 

SHRINE, a cabinet or 
case, to hold the effects of 
saints, and the relics or re- 
mains of their bodies ; also 
the tomb or place where 
pilgrims offer up their pray- 
ers and oblations to the saints. 
Those of Ephesus seem to 
have been small models of 
Diana's temple, with her 
image enclosed, Acts xix. 24. 

SHOE, a defence for the 
foot. Among the Hebrews 
slaves went barefoot', others 
generally had their feet and 
legs covered when they 
$yent abroad ; and women of 



quality wore shoes or gaiters 
of very costly texture, Song 
vii. 1. Ezek. xvi. 10; shoes 
were ordinarily of no great 
value, and so a. pair of shoes 
denotes a very inconsiderable 
bribe, Amos ii. 6. Soldiers 
often wore shoes of iron and 
brass ; and to this daj% many 
of the eastern people wear 
iron plates on the heels and 
the fore-sole of their shoes. 
The Hebrew^ 1 eating of the 
first passover with their 
shoes on, loins girded, and 
staff in their hand, imported 
that they were immediately 
after to begin their journey, 
Exod. xii. 11. Putting; off 
shoes, imported reverence, 
and was done in presence of 
God, or on entering the man- 
sion of a superior, Exod. iii. 
5. Josh. v. 5. Want of shoes, 
imported mourning, debase- 
ment, and slavery, 2 Sam. 
xv. 30. Ezek. xxiv. 17. 
Isa. xx. 2, 4. The pluck- 
ing off a shoe and giving it 
to another, imported resig- 
nation of right to him. Ruth 
iv. 7. To bear, or unloose 
one's shoes, imports doing 
for him the meanest offices. 
Matt. iii. 11. Luke iii. 16. 
David cast his shoe over 
Edom, when he took posses- 
sion of the country, and used 
the people as slaves. Ps. Ix. 
8, cviii. 9. 

SHUNEM, a city of Is- 
sachar, about five miles south 
of Tabor. Josh. xix. 18. In 



SID 



134 



SIM 



a great adjacent plain, the 
Philistines' army encamped, 
while Saul's lay at Gilboa. 
1 Sam. xxviii. 4. 

SHUSHAN, or Susa, on 
the bank of the river Ulai, in 
Persia. It is said to have 
been built by Memnon, be- 
fore the Trojan war. It was 
the winter residence of the 
Persian kings from the time 
of Cyrus, being sheltered by 
a high ridge of mountains 
from the north east wind : 
but in the summer it was so 
intensely hot as to be scarcely 
habitable. Here Daniel had 
his vision of the ram and he- 
goat. Dan. viii. 

SIBMAH, Shebmah, or 
Shebam, a city about half a 
mile from Heshbon. The 
very best vines grew about 
it. Isa. xvi. 8. It was orig- 
inally the property of the 
Moabites, and fell within the 
lot of Reuben. Numb, xxxii. 
38. . Josh. xiii. 19. 

SIDON, a great trading city, 
and the capital of the Phe- 
noecians. It was built soon 
after the flood, by Sidon, the 
eldest son of Canaan. Tyre, 
twenty-five miles south of 
it, was built by a colony from 
this city. Both Tyre and 
Sidon belonged to the tribe 
of Asher ; but it never ex- 
pelled the people. Indeed, 
at one time the Sidonians 
overcame all Israel. Judges 
x. 1. And in the days of A- 
haz they drove quite a com- 



merce in exporting the Jews 
for slaves. Joel iii. 4. The 
gospel was at the first pro- 
claimed here, and flourish- 
ing churches continued for 
many ages. Some Chris- 
tians are yet found there. It 
now contains sixteen thou- 
sand inhabitants, and is called 
Saide. See Tyre. 

SILOAM, a fountain ris- 
ing on the base of Mount 
Zion. Its waters were re- 
ceived in two large pools; 
and what overflowed from 
the lower one passed into the 
brook Kidron. The upper 
pool was sometimes called 
King's pool, probably be- 
cause his gardens were wa- 
tered from it. Near this 
stood the tower of which 
Christ speaks, Luke xiii. 4. 

SILVER is not mentioned 
as having been in use before 
the flood, nor till the time of 
Abraham ; it was not coin- 
ed till long after. Its ore 
generally contains other met* 
als, such as lead, tin, &c. 
and must be often purged to 
render it fine. Psl. xii. 7. 
The fine silver of the an- 
cients was found in the mines 
ofTarshish. Jer. x.9. Great 
quantities of it were used in 
the building of the temple by 
Solomon. 1 Chr. xxix. 4. It 
is put for all temporal wealth. 
Hos. ix. 6. A siherling, or 
piece of silver, is the same as 
a shekel. 

SIMEON. 1. The sec- 



SIM 



135 



SIN 



ond son of Jacob, born in the 
year 2247. 2. An aged saint 
who embraced the infant Je- 
sus. It is thought by some 
learned historians he was 
the great Rabbi, with whom 
Gamaliel, Paul's teacher, 
studied. 

SIMON. There were 
several of this name. 1. The 
Cyrenian, and father of Al- 
exander and Riifns, who is 
thought by some to be the 
same as the Niger, teacher at 
Antioch. Acts xiii. 1. It is 
not known whether he was 
a Jew or a Gentile. The 
Jews compelled him to assist 
in bearing the cross. Matt, 
xxvii. 32. It is said that he 
was afterwards the minister 
of Bostra, or Bezcr, and died 
a martyr for the faith. 

2. Simon Zelotes, or 
the Canaanite, one of Christ's 
apostles. He was called Ze- 
lotes, because he had been 
one of those Galileans, or 
zealous Jews, who refused 
to pay tribute to the Romans. 
Some suppose that he preach- 
ed the gospel in Egypt, Cy- 
renaica, Lybia, and Mauri- 
tania, if not also in Britain. 
Others affirm him to have 
been murdered at Lunir, in 
Persia, along with Jude. 

3. Simon, the brother or 
cousin of our Saviour, and 
the son of Cleophas. 

4. Simon the Pharisee, 
who invited our Saviour 
to an entertainment; and 



though he omitted the cus- 
tomary civility of giving him 
water for his feet, took of- 
fence at his allowing Mary 
Magdalene to anoint them. 
Jesus, by the parable of the 
two debtors, convinced him 
of his mistake. Luke vii. 
36—50. 

5. Simon Magus, from 
whom Simony had its name. 
Simony means making mer- 
chandise of ecclesiastical liv- 
ings, &c. 

SIMPLE, harmless, free 
from deceit. To be simple 
concerning evil, is to have 
little knowledge of the art of 
committing it. Rom. xvi. 
19. The simplicity that is 
in Christ, is either the plain 
self- consistent truths pf the 
gospel, or an unfeigned faith 
in these truths. 2 Cor. xi. 
3. 

SIN. 1. The name of 
a wilderness bordering 
on the Red Sea. Exodus 
xvi. 2. Offence against the 
law of God, either by doing 
what it forbids, or neglecting 
what it enjoins. Desiring 
forbidden things, or disliking 
duties, is also sin. It is the 
cause of all misery in this 
world, and of everlasting 
pain to the finally impeni- 
tent. Sins are called tres- 
passes, because they violate 
law, and break in on prohib- 
ited things. When it is said, 
he that committeth sin is of 
the devil, and is the servant of 



SIN 



136 



SIN 



sin, it means such is the 
character of those who will- 
fully sin and reject God's 
law. When it is said, the 
children of God do not, and 
cannot sin, John viii. 32, 1 
John iii. 6, 9, v. 18, it means 
that such do not and cannot 
willingly sin. When such 
sin, it is through the power 
of temptation, and gives them 
great grief. Thou shalt vis- 
it thine habitation, and not 
sin, means we must not live 
in a wicked manner. Origi- 
nal sin is that whereby our 
whole nature is denied, and 
rendered contrary to the na- 
ture and law of God, Ps. li. 5; 
and hence the inward part 
is said to be very wicked- 
ness ;-;-the heart is enmity 
against God. Psalm v. 9. 
This is the sin that dwells in 
us, Rom. vii. 17, 20, and 
works in us all manner of 
concupiscence. Rom. vii. 8 ; 
wars in us, Rom. vii. 23 ; 
reigns in and over us. Rom. 
vi. 11, 12. Blasphemy a- 
gainst the Holy Ghost, as it 
rejects and tramples on all 
his evidence and convictions, 
is called the sin unto death, 
because being never pardon- 
ed, it inevitably ruins men. 
1 John v. 16. What we ren- 
der sin-offering, is often the 
same in the Hebrew as what 
we render sin. Lev. iv. 3, 
25, 29. And the priests are 
said to eat sin; i. e. with 
pleasure feast on sin-offer- 



ings. Hosea iv. 8. Christ 
is said to be made sin, 
that we might be made 
the righteousness of God in 
him ; i. e. he had our sins 
charged to his account, and 
made a sin-offering. 2 Cor. 
v. 21. Psl. xi. 12. 1 Pet 
ii. 24. Isa. liii. 6. 

SINAI. The mount on 
which Jehovah appeared to 

Mosfis, and gave the Jewish 

law. The Hebrews came 
to this place in the third 
month of their pilgrimage. 
The law was given, it is 
thought, just fifty days after 
their exodus from Egypt, and 
hence, the Pentecost was 
observed on the 50th day 
after the passover. This 
mount stands in Arabia Pe- 
trea, and is called, by the 
Arabs, Jlbhil Mousa, or the 
mountain of Moses, and some- 
times El Tor or the Mount. 
It has two summits, Horeb 
and Sinai, which last is 
much the highest, and is call- 
ed the Mount of God. The 
ascent is very steep, and is 
by steps, which the Empress 
Helena, the mother of Con- 
stantine the Great, caused to 
be cut out in the marble 
rock. These are now so 
much worn and decayed, as 
to make the ascent tedious 
and difficult. At the top of 
Sinai, there is an uneven and 
rugged place, sufficient to 
hold sixty persons. Here 
stands a chapel, and near to 



SIS 



137 



SNO 



it, is a fountain of fresh wa- 
ter. The monks that dwell 
here, have, with ashes and 
sweepings, made a kind of 
soil for a garden. At the 
bottom in a narrow valley, is 
the Convent of St. Catharine, 
enclosed by high walls with- 
out a door. This was to pre- 
serve them from Arab rob- 
bers. Whoever wishes to 
enter, is drawn up in a bas- 
ket. Here God spoke to 
Elijah, 1 Kings xix. 8. 
Mount Sinai, says Mons. 
Niebuhr, has numerous beau- 
tiful springs, but they are 
not so copious as to unite and 
form streams that last the 
whole year. Various mod- 
ern travellers have ascended 
to the summit of this Mount, 
but the Arabs practise upon 
them great imposition. 

SINCERITY, pureness of 
mind, without double deal- 
ing. The word is derived 
from sine without, and cera, 
wax, or pure honey. When 
the Apostle, 2 Cor. v. 8, wish- 
ed to incite us to purity and 
candour, he alludes very 
beautifully, by the use of this 
word, to the pureness of 
honey dripping from the comb. 

SISERA, general of the 
Canaanites, under Jabin II. 
Jael invited him into her 
house, and being instigated 
of God to destroy this mur- 
derous idolater, and devot- 
ed Canaanite, drove a nail 
through his temples. 



SLING, one of the earliest 
weapon invented by man. 
By long practice, wonderful 
skill is attained in the use of 
it, as was the case of the 
Benjamites, who, with either 
hand, could sling stones at 
a hair, and not miss. Judges 
xx. 16. 

SMYRNA, a city of Ionia, 
built by the Amazons, about 
40 miles north of Ephesus. It 
was famous as early as the 
time of Homer, whose birth- 
place it was. About A. M. 
3400 the Lydians destroyed 
it; but Antigonus, one of 
Alexander's successors, re- 
built it, 300 years after. A- 
bout the time of our Saviour, 
it was one of the most weal- 
thy and populous cities in 
Asia. A Christian church 
was planted here very early ; 
which maintained the Chris- 
tian faith with such exact- 
ness, that in the divine epis- 
tle sent them by John, there 
is no reproof, but praise and 
direction, Rev. ii. 8, 9, 10. 
Christianity yet continues 
in this place. At present it 
is one ol the most flourishing 
places in the Levant, and is 
resorted to by the traders in 
Asia, Africa, Europe and 
America. It contains 28,000 
souls, of which above 10,000 
are Christians of the Greek 
church ; the rest are Turks 
and Jews. 

SNOW falls occasionally 
in Palestine, and always in 



SOL 



138 



SOU 



flakes as large as a chestnut. 
Hence the expression, He 
giveth snow like wool, Ps. 
xlvii. 17. It was brought 
from the mountains, and sold 
in the hot season, to cool wine, 
&c. as ice is in our cities. 
Its water was considered ve- 
ry cleansing, Job ix. 30. 

SOCKET, a kind of mor- 
tice in which the pillars of 
the tabernacle were fixed. 
A vast number of sockets 
were made, of which 100 
were of silver, a talent to 
each, Exod. xxxviii. 27. 
Exod. xxvi. 37. xxxvii. ; the 
weight of these sockets tend- 
ed to make the pillars stand 
firm. 

SODOM, Gomorrah, Ad- 
mah, Zeboim, and Zoar, 
were five cities of the Ca- 
naanites. In the days of 
Abraham they had each a 
king. The Dead Sea now 
covers the site of these cities, 
or at least a part of it, Jude 
vii. The Scripture account 
of the overthrow of these 
cities is corroborated by pro- 
fane historians, viz. Strabo, 
Diodorus Siculus, Tacitus, 
Solinus, &c. 

SOLOMON'S history is 
so full of interest, and so am- 
ply given in Scripture, that 
we need not insert the inci- 
dents of his life. He was 
the author of several books, 
beside those in the Bible, viz. 
3000 proverbs, 1005 songs, 
beside works on botany, 



natural history, and com- 
merce. 

SORROW, inward pain, 
arising from guilt or affliction. 
It is said the sorrow of this 
world worketh death— that is, 
mere distress without re- 
gard to God and looking to 
him for help, breaks the 
heart, and brings us to the 
grave. Godly sorrow, is 
grief tempered with reli- 
ance on God. I The sorrows 
of hell, Ps. xviii. are troubles 
of great magnitude. 

SOUL, is that spiritual, ra- 
tional, and immortal part or 
substance in man, which 
distinguishes* him from the 
brute creation, and bears 
some resemblance to its Di- 
vine Maker ; which possesses 
consciousness of its own ex- 
istence, and actuates, directs, 
or disposes in all the relations 
of life. The Scripture as- 
cribes to beasts a soul, which 
may be a second acceptation 
of the word, as having the 
same import with breath or 
respiration, which is the gen- 
eral principle of animal life. 
But the Scripture allows to 
man alone, an immortal soul, 
possessing the knowledge of 
God, wisdom, immortality, 
the hope of future happiness 
and of eternal life ; and man 
alone it threatens with the 
punishment of another life, 
and the pains of hell. Soul 
is taken for a human creature, 
or the whole person, both 



SPE 



139 



SPI 



soul and body. Gen. xxii. 5. 
Acts ii. 41. When the soul 
and spirit are spoken of to- 
gether, spirit means probably 
the temper. 

SPARROW, a very small, 
well known bird. It is gre- 
garious and remarkably live- 
ly : and when lamed, or de- 
serted by its mate, seems 
quite disconsolate. David 
compares himself to a de- 
serted sparrow. Ps. lxxxiv. 
3. They were so cheap at 
Jerusalem, that Jive were sold 
Jor two farthings. Luke xii.6. 
The care of Divine Provi- 
dence is therefore most strik- 
ingly depicted when his min- 
ute attention to them is declar- 
ed. Matt.x.29.Ps.civ.24--31. 

SPECTACLE, a public 
show. The Romans were 
remarkably fond of shows 
and games; and the theatres 
for this purpose w r ere some- 
times very costly — generally 
round like our circuses, and 
without a roof. One of the 
common exhibitions was to 
put criminals in the arena, 
and let loose wild beasts upon 
them. Hence the apostle's 
allusion, Heb. x. 32, 33. Per- 
haps when he sa\ she fought 
with wild beasts at Ephe- 
sus, he means literally that 
he was thus exposed. 1 Col. 
xv. 32. Those who were 
not condemned to certain 
death, were allowed weap- 
ons of defence. When the 
company, which was always 



vast, had enjoyed the horrid 
sight of these contests, in 
which the criminal was gen- 
erally victor, then were 
brought those capitally con- 
demned, who were allowed 
no weapons, nor even rai- 
ment; and were of course 
soon destroyed. To the lat- 
ter class Paul seems to com- 
pare ministers, when he says 
they are set forth last, as it 
were appointed unto death ; 
being made a spectacle to 
the world, to angels, and to 
men. 1 Cor. iv. 9. 

SPIDER, a venomous, cru- 
el, crafty insect, mentioned 
but thrice in the Bible, and 
each time in allusion to wick- 
ed men. Their trust shall 
be as a spider's web. Job 
vii. 13. Their icebs shall 
not become garments, neith- 
er shall they cover them- 
selves with their works. Isa. 
lix. 5. They insinuate them- 
selves into places of honor, 
and are in kings' palaces. 
Piov. xxs. 28. The story 
of the tarantula 9 s bite being 
only curable by music, is a 
ridiculous fable. 

SPIKENARD, a very 
fragrant species of grass, 
which when trodden upon 
fills the air with sweetness. 
The ear is about the size 
of one's finger, and is of a 
strong smell, and bitterish 
taste. The medicinal prop- 
erties reside principally in 
the root. The ointment made 



SPI 



140 



STA 



of it is very precious. Mark 
xiv. 3. The best spikenard 
comes from the east. When 
cultivated in gardens, it at- 
tains the height of five or 
six feet. 

SPIRIT, the Holy Ghost, 
the third person in the ever 
adorable Trinity ; equal in 
power and glory with the Fa- 
ther and the Son ; he who 
inspired the ancient proph- 
ets to foretell future events, 
and now quickens, illumin- 
ates, sanctifies, and com- 
forts the people of God. Mat. 
iii. 16. 1 John v. 2. 2 Pet. 
i. 21. John iii. 5. Heb. x. 
32. 1 Pet. i. 2, and John xiv. 
26. Spirit expresses also, 
the immaterial and immortal 
part of man. Acts vii. 59. 
See Soul. 

SPIRITUAL, means that 
which belongs to spirits. The 
church is a spiritual house ; 
her members are renewed 
in spirit. Jesus is her foun- 
dation; and his Spirit, and 



grace. 



connect them with 



him, and with one another. 
1 Pet. ii. 5. Prophets and 
other church officers are 
spiritual men, because their 
office lies in spiritual exer- 
cises. Hos. ix. 7. Chris- 
tians are spiritual, because 
the spirit of God dwelleth in 
them, and they seek spiritual 
objects. Gal. v.l. 1 Cor. iii. 1. 
God's law is spiritual ; it is 
a transcript of the divine na- 
ture ; it is given by the Ho- 



ly Ghost, and extends its au- 
thority to duties of a spiritu- 
al nature. Rom. vii. 14. 

STAR — a bright heaven- 
ly body, seen in the night. 
Some are fixed, that is, re- 
tain the same relative dis- 
tance from the stars which 
surround them ; whereby 
they are distinguished from 
planets which revolve round 
the sun as the earth does. 
The naked eye can perceive 
only about 1000. The teles- 
cope discovers about 3000. 
The ancient Heathens wor- 
shipped the Sun, Moon, Mer- 
cury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, 
and Saturn, for planets, i. e. 
wandering luminaries; and as 
our fathers worshipped these, 
they dedicated the seve- 
ral days of the week to 
them, as the names they still 
bear do show. But accord- 
ing to the new astronomy, 
the solar system consists of 
eleven primary planets, Mer- 
cury, Venus, the Earth, 
Mars, Vesta, Juno, Ceres, 
Pallas, Jupiter, Saturn and 
Hershel ; eighteen seconda- 
ry planets, of which the Earth 
has one, viz. the Moon ; Ju- 
piter has four, Saturn seven, 
and Herchel six. All these 
planets move round the sun, 
as well as round their own 
axes ; and the satellites move 
round the planets. They all 
appear luminous by there- 
flection of the rays of the 
sun. The distance of the 



ST A 



141 



STO 



fixed stars from the sun, 
renders it impossible for them 
to be illuminated by the re- 
flection of his rays. It is 
thought they are equal to our 
sun in magnitude, and only 
appear small by reason of 
their distance. Nay, as new 
stars have become visible in 
later times, perhaps there are 
fixed stars whose light, since 
the creation, has but now 
reached our earth, though it 
travels thirteen millions of 
miles in a minute. Oh, how 
immense must He be, whom 
the heavens, and heaven of 
heavens cannot contain ! — 
God numbers the stars and 
knows them as by their 
name : but we have few of 
their names in Scripture, as 
Chiun, Mazzaroth, Arcturus, 
Orion, Pleiades. The star 
which conducted the wise 
men to the infant Jesus, was 
merely a meteor, which 
moved in the middle region 
of the air, somewhat in ihe 
manner of the cloudy pillar 
before the Hebrews in the 
wilderness, Matt. ii. Jesus 
Christ is called the Morning 
Star, as he introduced the 
light of the gospel-day, and 
brought a fuller manifesta- 
tion of the truths of God than 
the prophets, whose predic- 
tions are now accomplished. 
By stars are sometimes meant, 
the princes and nobles of a 
kingdom, Dan. viii. 10 ; and 
sometimes pastors or minis- 
N 



ters of the Gospel, who ought 
to shine like stars in their 
lives and doctrine, Rev. i. 20. 
The angels are called stars, 
Job xxxviii. 7, who joined 
in extolling God for his work 
of creation. By Bay Star, 
2 Pet. i. 19, is meant a full 
knowledge of Christ, dispell- 
ing our ignorance and un- 
belief, and making us wise 
unlo salvation. In Scripture, 
an extraordinary multiplica- 
tion is often expressed under 
the similitude of the stars of 
the heaven. 

STEWARD, one who 
manages the affairs of an- 
other, and is accountable to 
him for the proper discharge 
of the duties of his office. 
The ministers of Jesus Christ 
are stewards of the mysteries 
of God, being intrusted with 
the management of God's 
people and the distribution of 
spiritual food, 1 Cor. iv. 1. 
1 Pet. iv. 10. Indeed, all 
mankind, are to be consider- 
ed as stewards under God, 
and they must give an ac- 
count unto him of all the 
talents with which they have 
been intrusted. It u neces- 
sary, therefore, that we 
should attend seriously to our 
important charge, and stand 
prepared for our Lord's ap- 
pearance, Matt. xxv. Titus 
i. 7. 

STOICKS. A sect of 
heathen philosophers, found- 
ed by Zeno of Cyprus. From 



STO 



142 



SUM 



his teaching in the Stoa, or 
porch at Athens, his follow- 
ers were called Stoicks. They 
regarded pain, poverty, be- 
reavement, &c. as only 
imaginary evils, and the 
gratifications of life, as only 
imaginary pleasures, and 
therefore preserved a cool in- 
difference under all circum- 
stances. Paul argued with 
them when in Athens, Acts 
xvii. Some of Zeno's opin- 
ions owe their degree of 
truth to his knowledge of 
the Old Testament, and some 
he gathered from the writings 
of Socrates and Plato. One 
of his favourite sayings was, 
that " men, having two ears, 
should hear much, and one 
fiiouth, should speak little." 

STONING; the punish- 
ment generally appointed in 
the law of Moses for capital 
offences. The witnesses 
threw first, then all present. 
Dent. vii. 7. John viii. 7. 

STORK, a bird celebrated 
for its amiable disposition. 
Its size is about that of a 
gocse ; but as it obtains its 
icod by wading in the mud 
and not by swimming, it has 
legs two feet long, end a 
neck in proportion. It is a 
bird of passage, Jer. viii. 7, 
and frequented tne region 
round Cana and Nazareth, 
*n neat flocks, which the 
inhabitants did not molest, 
chiefly because they ate up 
injurious insects and reptiles. 



STUBBLE, the stalks left 
in a field of grain which has 
been reaped. Stubble is of 
little value ; ot no strength 
or force ; is easily scattered 
with the wind, and easily 
burnt, Job xiii. 25. xli. 29. 
xxi. 18. Joel ii. 5. Wicked 
men are as stubble, easily 
burnt in the fire of God's 
wrath, Psalm lxxxiii. 14. 
Isa. xl. 24. Mai. iv. 1. False 
doctrines are as stubble, of 
no worth ; of no force to con- 
vince or comfort men's con- 
sciences, and cannot abide 
the trial of God's word, 1 Cor. 
iii. 12. 

SUCCOTH means tents. 
There were two places of 
this name. 1. In Egypt, 
where the Hebrews first set 
up their tents. Exod. xii. 37. 
2. A city east of Jordan, and 
south of the sea of Galilee, 
where Jacob set up his tents 
or succoth, as he came from 
Padan-aram. Gen. xxxiii. 
17. It seems probable that 
in the valley near it, Hiram 
cast the large utensils for the 
temple. Psl. Ix. 6. 1 Kings 
vii. 46. 

SUMMER, the warm sea- 
son of the year. Gen. viii. 
22. In countries north of 
(he equinoctial line, it be- 
gins in June, and ends in 
September. South of the 
equinoctial, it begins in De- 
cember, and ends in March. 
Seasons of prosperity, and 
of opportunities of salvation, 



SUN 



143 



SUP 



are called summer. Prov. x. 
5. Zech. xiv. 8. 

SUN, the great source of 
light and heat. The diam- 
eter of the sun is about eight 
hundred thousand miles. 
His distance from our earth 
is ninety- live millions of 
miles; so that light, which 
flies at the inconceivable 
swiftness of two hundred 
thousand miles in a second, 
requires eight minutes to 
reach our earth. A cannon 
ball, shot thence, and moving 
with unabated swiftness, viz. 
(according to Durham,) a mile 
insight and a half seconds, 
would take about 30 years 
to reach our earth ! Three 
miraculous events are related 
of the sun. It stood still at 
the command of Joshua. 
Jo^h. x. 12. It returned 
back in the time of king 
Hezekiah. 2 Kings xx. 11. 
It was involved in darkness, 
Matt, xxvii. 45, at the time 
of our Saviour's crucifixion, 
though the moon was full, 
which proves it was not an 
ordinary eclipse. Multitudes, 
from the brightness and use- 
fulness of the sun have wor- 
shipped him, under the char- 
acters of Baal, Chemosh, Mo- 
loch, Phoebus, &c. Even 
with the Jews, the worshrp 
of the sun was practised ; 
and Josiah had to take away 
the horses, and burn the 
chariots, consecrated in the 
temple to the sun. Kings 



xxiii. 11. After his death, 
we again find the Jews 
worshipping the sun. Ezek. 
viii. 16. From the rising 
to the setting of the sun, 
imports the whole world 
over. Psl. cxiii. 3. Before 
the sun, or in the face of the 
sun, imports the most daring, 
public and opan manner. Jer. 
xviii. 2. Numbers xxv. 4. 
To continue while thesim and 
moon endure, is to last very 
long, or forever. Psl. Ixxii. 
5. 17. Christ is called the 
Sun of Righteousness, as 
he enlightens, quickens, and 
comforts his people. A mo- 
man clothed with the sun, 
and the moon under her feet, 
signifies the church, clothed 
with the righteousness ot 
Christ, and rising superior to 
worldly things. Rev. xii. 1. 



SUPERSCRIPTION, that 
which is written on the top 
or outside of any thing. Mat. 
xxiii 20. It was the custom, 
of the Romans to write on a 
tablet or board, the crime for 
which any man suffered 
death. This tablet, they car- 
ried before the offender to 
the place of execution, and 
fastened it over his head, that 
all might read his transgres- 
sion, and beware of violating- 
the laws of their country. 
Hence the superscription 
written over the head of Je- 
sus Christ, as recorded by 2t\\ 
the evangelists. Matthew 
xxvii, 37. 



SWA 



144 



SYC 



SUPERSTITION, foolish 
fears, extravagant fancies, or 
mistaken devotion in divine 
worship ; or too much cere- 
mony in religion, without 
due regard being paid to the 
attainment of inward holi- 
ness, accompanied by a cor- 
rect moral conduct. Idola- 
try is a superstition. Acts 
xvii. 22. Those are super- 
stitious who are alarmed at 
the howl of a dog, the spill- 
ing of salt, or who fear 
ghosts, witches, &c. 

SURETY, one who be- 
comes bound for another. 
Sins are called debts, and 
Jesus Christ is called the 
surety. Heb. vii. 22. Christ 
fulfilled the law by the holi- 
ness of his life, and under- 
went the penalty when he 
offered up himself a sacri- 
fice to satisfy divine jus- 
tice. In consequence of the 
atonement made by this sa- 
crifice, the Holy Spirit is 
given to enable man to per- 
form what is required of 
him in the gospel ; namely, 
to repent, to believe, and 
obey the Redeemer, and 
wholly to rely upon his sa 
crifice for obtaining the fa- 
vour of God. The Scrip- 



ture forbids suretyship, or bidden solemn swearing in 

4. r„.. *u„ „~_, 4.''* ~~ 4- ~? ; + :^~ n* 4I-1,-. 



engagement for the payment 
of other people's debt, as it 
tends to ruin one's own fam- 
ily and estate. Proverbs xxii. 
26, xi. 15. 

SWALLOW, a small black- 



ish bird, which migrates to 
warmer countries every win- 
ter; but returns, often to 
the very nest occupied be- 
fore, which it constructs 
generally under the eves of 
houses, in chimnies, &c. 
It seems some had their nest 
round the ceilings of the tem- 
ple, Psalm Ixxxiv. 3. In 
countries not very cold, swal- 
lows often venture to remain 
during winter, and fixing 
themselves in caves, or clefts 
of mountains, or secluded 
buildings, become torpid. 
But it is not true, that they 
conceal themselves in ma/sh- 
es or under water. 

SWEAR, to make a solemn 
appeal to Almighty God, de- 
siring his mercy and protec- 
tion, no otherwise, than as 
the matter or thing affirmed 
is true or false ; to declare, 
promise, or give evidence 
upon oath. We ought never 
to swear but upon very ur- 
gent necessity, and to secure 
some considerable good. Our 
Saviour, who came into the 
world not to destroy the law, 
but to fulfil it, forbade all 
profane oaths, Matthew v. 
34. But he is not thought 
by learned men to have for- 



I court of justice. On the 
contrary his answering when 
adjured by the High Priesr, 
is generally considered in 
the light of an oath. 

SYCAMINE, or Syca- 



SYN 



145 



SYR 



more, a tree which partakes 
of the properties both of the 
fig and mulberry. The Egyp- 
tians seem to be more fond 
of its fruits than any other 
people. It is said to produce 
seven crops a year. We find 
from 1 Chron. xxvii. 28, that 
the Jews prized it. It attains 
a great size, three men some- 
times not being able to grasp 
one. It is ahvaj^s green. 
The fruit is about the size of 
a fig, and is often called by 
that name. 

SYNAGOGUE, an assem- 
b'y among the Jews for re- 
ligious worship. The place 
where they met, to pray, to 
read, and to hear the reading 
of the Holy Scriptures, and 
other instructions; and where 
by sermons and exhortations 
delivered to them, by pro- 
phets formerly, and after- 
wards by the doctors or 
teachers, the people were 
kept in the knowledge of God 
and his laws. They began 
to be used about the time of 
Ezra, and were verj 7 useful 
in keeping up a knowledge 
of God among the people; but 
at the time of our Saviour, 
they had added so many cor- 
rupt traditions, that they 
made the law of none effect, 
Matt. xv. 6. There was a 
council or assembly of grave 
and wise persons, well vers- 
ed in the law, who had the 
care of all things belonging 
to the service of the syna- 



gogue, and the management 
of certain judicial affairs ; 
over whom was set a presi- 
dent, called the ruler of the 
synagogue, Luke viii. 41. 
As there was but one temple, 
and to this a resort was to be 
had but thrice a year, and 
then by the males only, such 
a mode of keeping the Sab- 
bath became indispensable. 
Soon after the captivity, the 
Jews had a great number of 
synagogues, which increas- 
ed, till there were about 480 
of them in Jerusalem. Eve- 
ry trading fraternity had 
their synagogues, and com- 
panies of strangers, as Alex- 
andrians, Cyrenians, andoth- 
ers,had theirs for public pray- 
er,and for reading of the Scrip* 
tures. Our Saviour and his A- 
postles found the synagogues 
very convenient places for 
proclaiming the good news 
from heaven. There are 
now in the United States, 
five synagogues, viz. in New- 
port, New" York, Philadel- 
phia, Richmond, and Charles- 
ton. The congregations in 
each are small. 

SYRACUSE, a famous 
city, called also Saragossa, 
on the south east of Sicily, 
22 miles in circumference. 
It was once the largest and 
richest city of the Greeks. It 
was founded A. M. 3269, and 
for about two hundred and 
fifty years it made little fig- 
ure in the world. But in 



TAB 



146 



TAB 



the next two hundred and 
eighty, it became eminent 
in war, in commerce, and in 
wealth. Here the famed 
mathematician, Archimedes, 
with astonishing inventions, 
defended the place from the 
Romans ; but it was taken, 
and he was slain, about two 
hundred years before Christ. 
The Saracens seized it A. D. 
675 ; but in 1090 it was tak- 
en from them by Roger, duke 
of Apulia. Here Paul tar- 
ried three days, as he went 
prisoner to Rome. Here 
Christianity was early plant- 
ed, and still, at least in name, 
continues. The city has 
wholly lost its ancient splen- 
dour. Acts xxviii. 12. 

SYRIA, or Aram. The 
Syrians descended from A- 



ram, and possessed Mesopo- 
tamia, Chaldea, and part of 
Armenia. But Syria Prop- 
er had the Mediterranean 
Sea on the west, Cecilia on 
the north, and Canaan, and 
part of Arabia the Desert, on 
the south. Its excellent soil 
and noble rivers, Euphrates, 
Orontes, Cassimire, Adonis, 
Barrady, &c. rendered it a 
most delightful country. Its 
chief city is Jlntioch, upon 
the Orontes. 

SYRO-PHCENICIA was 
either that part of Phoenicia 
bordering on Syria, or per- 
haps the" whole of Phoenicia, 
which by conquest had been 
united to Syria. The people 
were originally Canaanites. 
Mark vii. 26. Matthew xv. 
22—28. 



T. 



TABERNACLE. 1. A 

tent, or slight temporary 
building made to be carried 
about from place to place 
as occasion required. 2. 
That particular tent in which 
the Israelites performed their 
religious exercises, during 
their long journey in the 
wilderness. Herej till the 



building of the temple, was 
kept the ark of the covenant, 
which was a symbol of God's 
gracious presence with the 
Jewish church, Exod. xxvi. 
1. Heb. ix. 2, 3. A tolerable 
idea of the tabernacle may be 
obtained from the picture. 
The court was 150 feet long 
and 75 broad. The curtains, 




TH3 JEWISH TABERNACLE. 







THE COURT OF THE TABERNACLE. P. 146. 



TAB 



147 



TAB 



round it were 8 feet high, 
sustained by 56 pillars. Witn*- 
in this area was the taberna- 
cle, the altar of burnt- offer- 
ing, and the brazen laver. 
The sacred tent or tabernacle, 
was, towards the west end, 
45 feet long and 15 broad. 
A curtain divided it into two 
apartments, the eastern one, 
called the Most Holy Place, 
being "15 feet square. With- 
in the Holy Place, were the 
altar of incense, the candle- 
stick, and the table of shew- 
bread. Within the Holy of 
Holies, was the ark of the 
covenant, with its mercy- 
seat, and overshadowing 
cherubims. Within the ark 
were the two tables of stone, 
written by the finger of God, 
a copy of the five books of 
Moses,called the law,& golden 
pot of manna", which remain- 
ed for ages in a state of perfect 
preservation, and Aaron's rod 
that budded. These seem 
to have been at one time 
kept before the ark, 1 Kings 
viii. 9, and at another, laid 
within it, Heb. ix. 4. Dur- 
ing the captivity, all these 
relics seem to have been lost 
except the stone tables. It 
was a splendid and costly 
structure ; but having been 
removed often, it became en- 
tirely worn out by the time 
Solomon's temple was ready. 
The ark of the covenant, &c. 
were then all removed to 
that edifice, and the curtains 



discarded. The feast of 
tabernacles was celebrated 
after harvest, in remem- 
brance of their having dwelt 
in tents, in their passage 
through the wilderness. 
They returned thanks to 
God for the fruits of the 
earth, and were put in mind, 
that they were only pilgrims 
and travellers in this world, 
Lev. xxiii. 34. The taber- 
nacle was a type of Christ's 
human nature, wherein God 
dwells personally, Heb. viii. 
2.— ix. 11. The natural 
body is the tabernacle of the 
soul, 2 Cor. v. 1. 2 Pet. i. 13. 
The dwellers in tents, Psalm 
lxxxiii. 6 ; and the tents of 
Judah, are such Jews as 
dwell in unfortified cities, 
Zech. xii. 7. The church's 
tent was enlarged, and her 
curtains stretched out, her 
cords lengthened, and her 
stakes strengthened, when 
the Gentiles were converted 
to Christ, and her gospel- 
state established, Isa. liv. 2. 
God's tabernacle is with men 
on earth, when they enjoy 
his eminent fellowship and 
favour, Rev. xxi. 3. The 
church and her true mem- 
bers are like the tents of Ke- 
dar ; their outward appear- 
ance is mean and despica- 
ble, and their condition in 
this world very unsettled, 
Sons: i. 

TABLE. The Jewish ta- 
ble 3 most in use, was proba- 



TAB 



148 



TAL 



bly that now common in the 
east, viz. a circular piece of 
leather spread on the floor, 
on which the food is laid, 
while those who partake, sit 
round with their legs crossed, 
Gen. xliii. 33. Among those 
in high life, each guest had 
his separate table and mess. 

When the Jews returned 
from captivity, they brought 
with them the more refined 
Persian method of eating, 
which was to have a table 
like ours, only shaped like a 
horse shoe, or three sides of 
asquare. Against these were 
placed not chairs but couches, 
with their end to the table. 
The body reclined on these, 
proped by the left arm. The 
open space in the centre ena- 
bled the servants to perform 
their duty. Such a pos(ure 
enabled Mary to come behind 
Christ to wash and anoint his 
feet. 

TABOR. 1. A conical 
mountain in Galilee. Josh. 
xix. 12, 22. It is about two 
miles high, and on the top is 
a beautiful plain about a mile 
in circumference, and enclos- 
ed with trees, except to- 
wards the south. From the 
top is one of the most de- 
lightful prospects in the 
world. On this mount, Ba- 
rak assembled his army, and, 
at the foot of it, defeated the 
host of Jabin. Judg. iv. 6, 
8. It is thought by some 
that here our Saviour was 



transfigured. 2. Tabor was 
also the name of a city giv- 
en by the Zebulonites to the 
Levites of Merari's family, 
1 Chron. vi. 73; and of a 
place near Bethel. 1 Sam. 
x. 3. 

TABRET. See Timbrel. 

TADMOR, a noble city in 
the north of Canaan. Its 
vicinity was exceedingly fer- 
tile, though at a little great- 
er distance all was a sandy 
desert. Pie lived the famous 
Longinus. It is now called 
Palmyra, and is famous on- 
ly for its ruins. About thirty 
poor families constitute its 
whole population. 

TALENT, a Jewish coin or 
weight. Money of specific 
current value was not known 
in early times ; but gold and 
silver were weighed out 
when purchases were made. 
Gen. xxiii. 16, and xxxvii. 
28, Jer. xxxii. 10. The 
Jews did not begin to coin 
money till about 150 years 
before Christ. It is not quite 
clear what was the exact 
value of the talent. That 
of silver was probably some- 
where near two thousand 
dollars, and that of gold a- 
bout thirty thousand. What- 
ever gifts or opportunities 
God gives to men for their 
usefulness are called talents. 
To some he gives these in 
greater, and to others in less 
proportion ; but all ought to 
improve what they receive, 



TAR 



149 



TAR 



for of all will a strict account 
be exacted. Matt. xxv. Luke 
xix. When our Saviour 
speaks in a parable, of the 
obligations we owe to God, 
and those which men owe 
to each other, he calls the 
first ten thousand talents, 
and the last a hundred pence, 
Matt, xviii. 24 — 28, striking- 
ly teaching us how freely 
we should forgive one an- 
other's offences, when we are 
forgiven so great a debt of sin. 
TAPESTRY,cloth wrought 
into figures in the loom, or 
with the needle. It was 
used in the east, as early as 
the age of Solomon. The 
crusaders seem to have intro- 
duced the art of making it into 
Europe, about 600 years ago. 
The English and Flemish first 
distinguished themselves in 
making it. It is used to cover 
beds, and to ornament rooms, 
but is now happily become un- 
fashionable, as its beauty is not 
equal to the time and pains it 
requires. Its figures are fre- 
quently formed with threads 
of gold. Prov. vii. 16. 

TARES, a weed injurious 
to grain, both by occupying 
space and by the seed being 
unwholesome. In this coun- 
try the wheat fan gets out the 
tare seed; but the ancient 
fan could not. [See Fan.] 
On this account they pulled 
up the tares, or separated them 
before threshing, when the 

best flour was to be made. Mr.U. Carthage. Isaiahxxiii. 6 




Fisk, the missionary, found 
on the plains round Ephesus, 
some Greek men and wo- 
men employed in the field 
of grain, pulling up tares. 
Matt. xiii. 28. Sometimes a 
sieve is used. Thus Satan 
desired to sift Peter as wheat. 
TARSHISH or Tarsus. 
There appear to have been sev- 
eral places called by this name, 
1. Tarsus in Cilicia which 
was the capital of that coun- 
try, and stood on the rivet 
Cydnus, about six miles from 
the sea, built, Strabo says, by 
Sardanapalus, the king of As- 
syria. It is said to have once 
excelled even Athens and Al- 
exandria in learning ; those 
cities, and even Rome it- 
self, being indebted to it 
for its best professors. Ju- 
lius Cesar, and afterward 
Octavius, delighted to hon- 
our it, granted its citizens 
the same privileges as those 
of Rome ; and hence Paul 
was here free born. To 
evince their gratitude, the 
inhabitants called their city 
Juliopolis, or the city of Jr>- 
lius. This city at present is 
of no importance : but Chris- 
tianity, planted here by Paul, 
has never since been wholly 
extinct. Its present name is 
Trassa. 2. The name seems 
to be applied to Spain. Ps. 
lxxvii. 10. 3. A place on 
the east of Africa, not far 
from Ophir. 1 Kings x. 22. 



TEM 



150 



TEM 



TEKOAH, a city of Judah, 
twelve miles south of Jeru- 
salem. Around it was an 
extensive wilderness, or pas- 
ture land and forest. Amos, 
the sacred writer, kept a 
herd here before his call to 
the ministry. Amos i. 1. 

TEMPERANCE, that ra- 
tional and regular command 
over our passions, affections, 
and inclinations, whereby we 
restrain or keep ourselves 
from eating, drinking, or de- 
siring any thing to excess. 
It is opposed to every excess, 
whereby the mental facul- 
ties are beclouded, or the 
moral habits rendered un- 
chaste. Intemperance in the 
use of ardent spirits had be- 
come most awfully prevalent 
in this country, and threaten- 
ed entire ruin, till of late vast 
numbers of good men, alarm- 
ed at the approaching crisis, 
rose to check the spreading 
evil. Associations were form- 
ed — newspapers established 
— agents employed — tracts 
circulated — addresses deliv- 
ered, &c. and by the blessing 
of God, the growth of the 
evil is not only checked, but 
a good measure of reform pro- 
duced. It is the purpose of 
those who began to sound the 
alarm, not to cease till such 
liquors are only used as a 
medicine, according to the 
Scriptures, Prov. xxxi. 6. 

TEMPLE. The house 
built at Jerusalem for the wor- 



ship of God. The prepara- 
tions for this temple were 
immense. David and his prin- 
ces contributed 108,000 ta- 
lents of gold, 1,017,000 talents 
of silver, which together, a- 
mounted to 46,000 ton weight 
of gold and silver, or the val- 
ue of more than four thou- 
sands million of dollars! A- 
bout 184,600 men, were em- 
ployed seven years in build- 
ing it It was erected on 
mount Mori ah. And was 
dedicated with a solemn pray- 
er by Solomon, by seven days 
of sacred feasting, and by a 
peace-offering of 20,000 oxen 
and 120,000 sheep,to consume 
whichthe holy fire anew came 
down from heaven. It remain- 
ed in its glory but about 34 
years, when Shishak carried 
ofFits treasures, 1 Kings xiv. 
25. Jehoiada and Joash repair- 
ed it about A. M. 3150. Soon 
after, Joash gave its treas- 
ures to Hazael king of Syria, 
2 Kings xii. 2 Chron. xxiv. 
Ahaz stripped it so complete- 
ly to hire the assistance of 
Assyria that it was for a long 
time entirely shut up. 2 
Chron. xxviii. 2 Kings xvi. 
Kezekiah repaired it, and 
made such vessels for it as it 
wanted ; but in the 14th 
year of his reign, he was ob- 
liged to rob it of much of its 
wealth, to give to Sennacher- 
ib, 2 Chron. xxix. 2 Kings 
xviii. Manasseh,idolatrous- 
ly reared altars to the host 



TEM 



151 



TER 



of heaven in the sacred courts, 
but afterwards restored the 
true worship of God. Josiah 
his grandson further purged 
the temple, and replaced the 
ark of God therein, 2 Kings 
xxi. xxii. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 
xxxv. About A. M. 3398, 
Nebuchadnezzar carried the 
sacred vessels to Babylon, 
and at last, in 3416, entirely 
demolished the temple, Ezek. 
vii. 20—22. xxiv. 21. Jer. 
lii. 13. About A. M. 3469, 
Cyrus ordered it to be rebuilt, 
which was done under the 
direction of Zerubbabel. It 
wanted, as the Jews say, five 
things, which were the chief 
glory of the former, viz. the 
ark and its furniture, the She- 
chinah or cloud of the divine 
presence, the holy fire, the 
Urim and Thumnrim, and 
the spirit of prophecy, Ezra 
i. iii. vi. About A. M. 3837, 
Antiochus profaned it, stopped 
the daily sacrifice, and erect- 
ed the image of Jupiter on 
the altar of burnt offering; 
but, about three years after, 
Judas Maccabeus purified 
and repaired it, and restored 
the true worship of God. 
Herod the Great, about A. M. 
3987, began to build it anew. 
In nine years he finished the 
principal parts of it ; but 46 
years after, when our Sa- 
viour had b3gun his public 
ministry, it was not quite 
finished ; nay, till the begin- 
ning of their ruinous wars, 



they still added to its build- 
ings. It was burnt and en- 
tirely destroyed by the Ro- 
man army under Titus, for 
an account of which, see Jo- 
sephus. 

TEMPTATION. 1. The 
act of enticing to a crime. 

2. The state of being tried. 

3. Any thing offered to the 
mind as a motive to ill. It 
signifies those means which 
are made use of by the Devil, 
to ensnare mankind, and 
draw them from their duty, 
Matt. vi. 16. xxvi. 41. Luke 
xi. 4. God tempts men by 
those afflictions and persecu- 
tions for religion, which he 
permits, in order to exercise 
and prove the graces of his 
people, and to confirm them 
by such trials. They should 
therefore be borne by Chris- 
tians without murmuring,that 
they may become patterns of 
obedience. Gen. xxii. 1. 
Jas. i. 2, 12. Luke viii. 13. 
Men tempt God, when they 
unseasonably and irreverent- 
ly require proofs of his pres- 
ence, power, and goodness; 
when they expose themselves 
to danger, from which they 
cannot escape without the 
miraculous interposition of 
his providence ; and when 
they sin with great boldness, 
as if to try whether God 
would punish them, Exod. 
xvii. 2. Matt. iv. 7. Mai. 
iii. 15. Acts v. 9. 

TERAH, the son of Na- 



THE 



152 



THR 



hor was born, A. M. 1878 ; 
and at the 130th year of his 
life, had Abram born to him. 
He and his family were idol- 
aters; but it would seem 
that the call of Abraham 
was blessed to his conver- 
sion. It is certain that Te- 
rah emigrated with Abra- 
ham to Haran, and died there, 
Gen. xi. 24 — 32. Josh. xxiv. 
2, 14. 

TERAPHIM, images of 
household gods. Some think 
they were talismans, to pre- 
serve the family from evil. 
Eastern nations have for 
many ages been addicted to 
such charms. The Persians 
call them telephin, which is 
much the same as teraphim. 
They were sometimes con- 
sulted for oracles, Zech. x. 2. 
TETRARCH, one who 
governed the fourth part of a 
kingdom. 

THESSALONICA, the 
capital of Macedonia. Phil. 
i. 1. It was anciently call- 
ed Halis, and Thermae ; but 
Philip, the father of Alexan- 
der the Great, called it Thes- 
salonica, to commemorate 
his victory over the Thessa- 
lians. About A. M. 3837, it 
fell into the hands of the 
Romans. About A. D. 52, 
Paul, Silas, and Timothy, 
planted a church here. The 
Saracens took it about eight 
hundred years after Christ ; 
and after various revolutions, 
it is now under the power of 



Turkey. Its present name 
is Salonaky. 

THOMAS, or Didymus, 
one of the apostles. Matt. 
x. 3. He had staid several 
years at Jerusalem, after the 
Pentecost, and then went, it 
is said, to preach among the 
Parthians, Medes, Hyrcani- 
ans, and Bactrians. He suf- 
fered martyrdom in Melia- 
poor, in the East Indies, 
where, three hundred years 
ago, the Portuguese discov- 
ered Christians, who called 
themselves by his name. 

THRESHING-FLOOR. 
A very good idea of this im- 
portant part of a Jewish 
farm may be got from the 
picture. It was prepared in 
the open field, as it is at this 
day in our southern States, 
by trampling and rolling a 
sufficient spot of ground, gen- 
erally on some gentle emi- 
nence, for the sake of the 
wind. Here the smaller 
kinds were beaten out with a 
long staff, or flail ; the larger 
kinds with oxen or horses. 
These drew a set of rollers, 
over which was constructed 
a seat for the driver of the 
team. Isa. xxviii. 27. To 
separate the chaff and grain, 
the fan was used. [See Fan.] 
The grain was cleared of 
heavier substances, such as 
lumps of dirt, by means of 
the sieve. To depict the dire 
ruin of the wicked, it is said, 
" They shall be as the chaff 




www 



AN ANCIENT THRESHING FLOOR. 



A. View of the bottom and rollers. 

B. View of the side and driver's seat. 



P. 152. 



TIB 



153 



TIM 



that is driven with the whirl- 
wind out of the floor." Hos. 
xiii. 3. Job xxi. 8. 

THRONE, the seat of a 
monarch. Being always 
higher than a chair, it need- 
ed a footstool^ where, in to- 
ken of reverence, applicants 
bowed themselves. Solo- 
mon's throne was raised six 
steps, and was of solid gold 
and ivory. Tho word is 
uspA to denote kingly au- 
thority, Gen. xli. 10; and 
hence angels are called 
thrones. Col. i. 16. 

TH YATIRA is situated be- 
tween Sardis and Pergamos, 
near a branch of the Caicus, 
in the centre of an extensive 
plain. At the distance of four 
or five miles, a belt of moun- 
tains surrounds it. It was 
once famous for its purple 
dye. Acts xvi. 14. There 
are now about one thousand 
houses in the place, but poor. 
The streets are very narrow 
and dirty. It is now called 
Jlk Hisar. 

TIBERIAS, a city of Gal- 
ilee, built by Agrippa, and 
named in honour of the em- 
peror Tiberius. Hegesippus 
says it was the same as Cin- 
nereth. In the time of the 
Jewish wars, this city was 
the capital of Galilee, and 
was bravely defended by Jo- 
sephus the historian : but be- 
ing taken by Vespasian, the 
father of Titus, afterwards 
emperor, it was almost de- 



molished. It was, however, 
a place of considerable note, 
for many ages after. Here 
was a Christian church, thir- 
teen synagogues, and a fa- 
mous Jewish academy. John 
vi. 1, 23. Here was held 
the last session of the San- 
hedrim,, and here the Tal- 
mud was collected. 

TIBERIUS. Cesar Au- 
gustus having married Livia, 
Tiberius' mother,adoptedhim 
as his heir. In the beginning 
of his reign, Tiberius be- 
haved with moderation; but 
afterwards became peevish, 
cruel and oppressive. About 
the thirteenth year he made 
Pilate governor of Judea. 
In the fifteenth year John 
Baptist began to preach. Luke 
iii. 1. Soon after he took 
from the Jews the power of 
putting criminals to death. 
It is said, that hearing of the 
miracles of our Saviour, he 
was earnest to have him en- 
rolled among the Roman de- 
ities, but was hindered by 
the senate. He so favoured 
the Christians, as to threaten 
death to such as molested 
them on account of their re* 
ligion. 

TIMBREL, an instrument 
of music, very like our Tam- 
bourine, consisting of a 
brass hoop, over which was 
stretched a parchment. It 
was held in the left hand, 
and struck with the right ; 
and was played on whilQ 



TIN 



154 



TIT 



dancing on occasions of great 
joy. Exodus xv. 20. It is 
also called Tdbret. 

TIME, the measure of 
duration ; the season to do 
a thing. To redeem time is 
to be doubly diligent in duty 
on account of former negli- 
gence. The last times mean 
fospel times which are un- 
er the last dispensations of 
grace, and near the end of 
the world. The fulness of 
time means the time when 
every thing is ripe, and ex- 
actly prepared for an event. 
Gal. iv. 4. 

TIMOTHY, or Timothe- 
us, was a native of Lystra. 
His father was a Greek, but 
his grandmother Lois, and his 
mother Eunice, being pious 
Jewish women, trained him 
up from a child in the knowl- 
edge of the Scriptures. His 
bodily constitution was very 
weak, but his gifts and graces 
were eminent. Acts xvi. 1. 
2 Tim. i. 5, 15, iii. 15. 

TIN, a white metal, of 
little elasticity, lighter than 
almost any other metal, and 
so ductile as to be capable 
of being beaten out into 
leaves as thin as paper. It 
is procured in Germany, 
Saxony, England, South 
America, and the East In- 
dies. It seems to have been 
known and used very early, 
being mentioned, Numbers 
xxxi. 32. Ezek. xxvii. 12. 
Homer mentions it in the 



Iliad. Its ores frequently 
occur in granite. Tin ware 
as it is called, is really sheet 
iron ware, washed with tin 
to prevent rust. 

TIRHAKAH, a king of 
Cush ; called in profane his- 
tory, Thearchon. 2 Kings 
xix. 19. 

TIRSHATHA, a title of 
honor bestowed on Zerubba* 
bel and Nfthemiah, thought 
to be equivalent to commis- 
sioner. Ezra ii. 63. Neh. x. 1. 

TIRZAH, a very beauti- 
ful city belonging to the 
tribe of Ephraim. 1 Kings 
xiv. 17. 

TITHES mean tenths. 
We suppose God suggested 
to the patriarchs his claim 
to the tenth part of their gain. 
When Abram returned from 
his victory over Chedorlao- 
mer and his allies, he gave 
to Melchizedec, the Lord's 
priest, the tenth of his spoils. 
Gen. xiv. 20. Jacob dedi- 
cated to God, by a vow, the 
tenth of his gain in Mesopo- 
tamia, Gen. xxviii. 22. Nay, 
multitudes of Greeks, Ko- 
mans, and other Heathens, 
devoted the tenth part of 
their incomes to the service 
of God. After the first-fruits 
and their attendant offerings 
were deducted, the tenth of 
their remaining product of 
corn, cattle, &c. were as- 
signed to the Levites. Of 
what remained to the proprie- 
tor, another tithe was levied, 



TON 



155 



TOP 



and in value or kind, sent to 
the service of the tabernacle 
and temple, and the minis- 
ters thereof, at the solemn 
feasts. On every third year 
a third tithe was levied, for 
the use of the Levites, and 
the fatherless, widows, and 
strangers. It does not ap- 
pear that the tithe of herbs 
was demanded. The Phari- 
sees, however, tithed their 
mint, anise, cummin, and 
rue ; nor does Jesus condemn 
them for it, but for neglect- 
ing weightier things, as mer- 
cy, judgment, and faith, 
while they were so wonder- 
fully exact in small matters. 
Deut. xiv. 22—29. Nu»b. 
xviii. 20. 

TITTLE, a minute point ; 
a small circumstance. 

TITUS, an eminent min- 
ister of the primitive church 
of whom nothing is known 
but what we derive from the 
New Testament. 

TONGUE. 1. That mem- 
ber whereby we articulate 
sounds, and communicate 
thoughts one to another, 
James iii. 5. 2. The lan- 
guage that is spoken in any 
country, Deut. xxviii. 49. 
There appears to have been 
but one language, till the 
confusion of tongues at Babel. 
The Hebrew tongue contains 
more internal evidence of 
being the same that God 
communicated to Adam, than 
any other ; but it is supposed 



to have undergone altera- 
tions, in the series of so many 
ages from Adam down to 
Moses. The simplicity of 
its construction, the concise- 
ness and energy of its ex- 
pressions, and its peculiar 
fertility ; the relation it has 
to the most ancient oriental 
languages, which seem to 
derive their origin from it; 
the etymology of the names 
whereby the first of mankind 
were called, which naturally 
occurs in thi3 language ; the 
names of animals, which are 
often significant in the He- 
brew tongue, and describe the 
nature and property of those 
very animals; the mo3t an- 
cient book, viz. the Bible, 
being in this language, &c. 
indicate that it was the orig- 
inal language of the human 
species. 

TOPAZ, a transparent jew- 
el, third in value to the dia- 
mond. The finestare brought 
from the East Indies, gener : 
ally about the size of a pin's 
head. Scarcely any ex- 
ceed the sixth part of an inch 
in diameter. The best are 
of a yellow golden colour. 
The most valuable topaz in 
the world, is that in the 
possession of the Great Mo- 
gul. It is said to weigh 
about one hundred and thir- 
ty-seven carats. 

TOPHET, a drum, or tim- 
brel. Tophet was the 
name of a place in the valley 



TOR 



156 



TRA 



of Hinnom, called Gehen- 
na, where the idolatrous 
Jews burned their children 
to Molech : it was so called 
Yrom the beating of drums, 
(toph being the Hebrew 
name of a drum,) which 
were used to drown the cries 
of the poor innocents during 
these horrid rites, 2 Kings 
xxiii. 10. In order to dis- 
qualify this valley from being 
a place of worship, and thus 
the more thoroughly to have 
Molech discarded, the good 
king Josiah caused it to be 
a place for offal, dead carcass- 
es and filth of every kind, 
Jer. xix. It was from that 
time universally abhorred, 
and abandoned to loathsome- 
ness. In order to prevent 
the pestilent influence of a 
place where dead bodies rot- 
ted above ground, perpetual 
fires were kept burning 
there. Hence it grew to be 
an image of hell, and ulti- 
mately the name Gehenna, 
was definitively applied to the 
place of future and eternal 
punishment. 

TORTOISE. There are 
two kinds of tortoises, viz. 
sea and land ones, it is the 
land tortoise that is mention^ 
ed in Scripture. It feeds on 
flowers and insects, and lives 
longer than men. By many 
it is reckoned a fine dish. 
It has a wonderful power of 
enduring the want of food. 
Its general size is from four 



to eight inches long ; but in 
the Isle of Madagascar, the 
Gallipagoes, &c. it attains 
five or six times that size, 
covered with a shell mixed 
of white, yellow, and other 
colours, of great value in 
commerce. 

TOWER. 1. A high 
stage erected in cultivated 
fields, on which aw T atchman 
was stationed toward harvest 
to guard against thieves, Jer. 
vi. 27. 2. A fortified build- 
ing to afford protection a- 
gainst enemies, or to annoy 
them, 2 Kings xvii. 9. 

TRADITION, a narrative 
or ceremony delivered from 
fathjr to son by word of 
mouth, without any written 
memorial. Those traditions, 
for the observance of which 
the Scribes and Pharisees so 
much contended, were con- 
demned by our Saviour, as 
having no divine warrant. 
Matt. xv. 2, 3. The fifth com- 
mandment was so strangely 
perverted by these self-right- 
eous teachers, that, accord- 
ing to them, a man might 
give the surplus of his es- 
tate, as a religious gift to 
God, and deny any support 
to his parents, who might be 
destitute of the necessaries 
of life. Matt. xv. 4, &c. 
These traditions of the Jews 
became in time amazingly 
numerous, and had regard to 
the most trifling actions of 
life. About A. D. 190 they 



TRA 



157 



TRI 



were collected by the indus- 
trious Rabbi Judah, and 
written. He called his work 
the Mishna, or second law. 
About one hundred years af- 
ter Rabbi Jochanan wrote 
a commentary on the Mish- 
na, which he called Gema- 
ra, or Perfection. The 
whole was called the Tal- 
mud, or Instruction. About 
the year 500, the Babyloni- 
an Rabbins composed another 
Talmud, written in a clearer 
style, and not quite so full of 
absurdities. It makes ten or 
twelve £reat folio volumes ; 
but there is an abridgment 
by Maimonides, in four great 
volumes. The Roman Cath- 
olics are fond of traditions, 
and hold to many. The word 
of God, however, is our only 
guide in faith and practice, 
and whatever has no warrant 
there ought not to be consid- 
ered binding. 2 Thes. iii. 
15, Rev. xxii. 18, 19. 

TRANCE, that state of a 
person's mind, wherein su- 
pernatural things are reveal- 
ed to him. When Ezekiel 
and John had their visions, 
they were often cast into a 
trance. Ezek. i. &c. Rev. i. 
4, &c. And so was Peter, 
when admonished to go and 
preach to the Gentiles, Acts 
x. 10, xi. 5; and Balaam 
boasts that he, falling into a 
trance, saw the glory of 
the LoraV Numbers xxiv. 
4, 



TREES are useful— some 
for fuel, some for timber, 
some for medicine, some for 
dying, some for fruit, &c. 
The Scripture mentions the 
shittah, cedar, chestnut, cy- 
press, almug or algum, oak, 
teil, ash, elm, box, fir, oil, 
olive, apple, pomegranate, 
fig, sycamore, mulberry, 
&c. Every pleasant and 
fruitful tree grew in the gar- 
den of Eden. Rev. xxii. 2, 
&c. Jesus Christ is called 
the tree of life, because by 
partaking of his fulness we 
attain life everlasting. Chris- 
tians are called trees of right- 
eousness, because like Christ, 
and yield benefits to men. 
Psalm i. 3. Isaiah i. 3, 
&c. 

TRIBE, a division of peo- 
ple. The tribes of Israel 
were the descendants of Ja- 
cob's sons. As Jacob bless- 
ed both Manasseh and E- 
phraim, who were Joseph's 
sons, it made thirteen tribes, 
and yet no tribe of Joseph. 
The land of promise, howev- 
er, was divided only into 12 
portions, because the tribe of 
Levi, being ministers in reli- 
gion, were to be supported 
by tithes from their breth- 
ren. There being twelve 
tribes who each payed them 
a tenth of every thing, their 
condition was more easy than 
the other tribes. The Jews 
inform us that each tribe had 
its banner as follows : 



TRO 



158 



TWI 



Jndah, a Lion couching, Gen. 

xlix. 9. 
Xssachar, „ Ass, Gen. xlix. 14. 
Zebulon, „ Ship, „ „ 18. 

Reuben, „ Man, „ „ 4. 



Simeon, 
Gad, 
Ephraim, 
Manasseh, „ 
•Benjamin, „ 
Dan, „ 

Ashur, „ 
Naphtali, „ 



Sword, 
Lion, I 
Unicorn, 
Bull, 
ToU 
Serpent, 
Sheaf of wheat 
Hind, 



17. 
17. 
27. 
17. 
20. 
21. 



TRIBUTE ; money paid 
by a tax. Our Saviour, Matt, 
xxii. 17, shows clearly, that 
religion does not exempt men 
from their civil duties; and 
the apostle Paul recommends 
to faithful Christians the same 
obedience. Romans xiii. 7. 
Jewish pride was greatly 
humbled by their being com- 
pelled to pay tribute to Rome, 
and the Publicans who col- 
lected it were odious to them. 

TROAS, or Troy, a city of 
Phrygia, near the mouth of the 
Hellespont, very famous in 
history, which, afteraseige of 
ten years, was taken by the 
Greeks. This occurred, ac- 
cording to Sir Isaac Newton, 
about nine hundred and four 
years before the birth of 
Christ, or during the reign 
of Jehosaphat. A new city 
of the same name was soon 
built about four miles nearer 
the sea. Here Paul often 
preached, lodging with one 
Carpus. Acts xvi. 8, xx. 
5—12, 2 Tim. iv. 13. A 
Christian church long existed 
here, but is now extinct, and 
the place is ia ruins. 



TRUMPET, an instru- 
ment of loud music, still in 
common use. It was o- 
riginally made of the horn of 
a ram or ox, and subsequent- 
ly of metal. The Bugle is 
a modern improvement of 
this instrument. On that 
new moon festival, which 
commenced the Jewish civil 
year, that is, the first day of 
Tizri, was held the Feast of 
Trumpets. Leviticus xxiii. 
Numb. xxix. 

TRUTH, the positive mat- 
ter of fact ; contrary to false- 
hood. Moral truth is the 
conformity of words and ac- 
tions to the thoughts of the 
heart ; as when a man speaks 
what he thinks, and is in re- 
ality what he seems to be. 
It is taken for the true prin- 
ciples of religion, the true 
doctrine of the gospel ; and 
Jesus Christ* being the Au- 
thor, is emphatically styled 
" the truth" because he is 
the substance of all the 
types. John xiv. 6. 

TWILIGHT, the light 
which continues after the 
sun has set, and commences 
before it rises. 1 Samuel 
xxx. 17, Prov. vii. 9. This 
is caused by the atmosphere, 
which being thicker than 
the space between it and the 
sun, bends down, or refracts 
the rays of light, and even 
makes the sun itself ap- 
pear when it is beneath the 
horizon. In the northern 



TYP 



159 



TYP 



parts of Scotland, the sun 
sets but for a short time in 
the summer, and the twilight 
will enable a person to read 
even at midnight. Near the 
poles, twilight continues for 
several weeks together, with- 
out the sun's rising. It then 
rises, and shines uninterrupt- 
edly the whole summer. 
Then the twilight of several 
weeks recurs, and afterward 
the sun sets to be seen no 
more till the next summer. 

TYPE, a person or thing, 
prefiguring something re- 
lative to Christ or his 
church. These were nu- 
merous, as none of them 
could fully point out its anti- 
type ; and were a kind of 
real predictions of things to 
come, as those uttered by 
the prophets were verbal. 
There were typical persons, 
as Adam, Abel, Noah, Mel- 
chizedek, Abraham, Isaac, 
Jacob, Job, Moses, Aaron, 
Joshua, David, Solomon, Jo- 
nah, Daniel, Zerubbabel, 
&c. Typical classes of per- 
sons, as Israelites, the first- 
born males, kinsman-redeem- 
ers, Nazarites, high-priests. 
Occasional typical things, 
as Noah's ark, Jacob's lad- 
der, the burning bush, the 
cloudy pillar, the water of 
Marah, the manna, Aaron's 
budding rod, the brazen ser- 
pent, the pool of Bethesda, 
the deliverance of the He- 
brews from Egypt, their pas- 



sage through the Red Sea, 
their travels in the wilder- 
ness, their entrance into Ca- 
naan, their wars with the 
heathens, their return from 
Babylon, &c. The typical 
institutions were circum- 
cision, sanctification of fruit- 
trees, offering no base things 
to God, exclusion from the 
congregation of the Lord, 
wearing proper apparel, a- 
voiding mixed garments,sow- 
ing mingled seed, ploughing 
with oxen and asses, tender- 
ness to beasts, not muzzling 
the treading ox, &c. The 
typical places were Canaan, 
the cities of refuge, Jerusa- 
lem, Zion, the tabernacle, 
and the temple. The typi- 
cal utensils were the ark, 
the pot of manna, the table of 
shew bread with its loaves, 
the golden altar of incense, 
the golden candlestick, the 
silver trumpets, the brazen 
lavers and sea, the brazen 
altar, &c. The typical offer - 
ings were the burnt, the sin, 
the trespass, peace, and meat- 
offerings, the drink-offerings, 
the anointing oil, ransom- 
money, tithes, first-fruits, 
things voluntarily devoted, 
the ram caught in the thick- 
et, &c. The typical seasons 
were the time of the daily 
sacrifices, the Sabbath, the 
feast of new-moons, the pass- 
over and feast of unleaven- 
ed bread, Pentecost, the feast 
of trumpets, the feast of tah» 



UNB 



160 



UNB 



ernacles, the year of release, 
and the jubilee, &c. The 
typical purifications were 
from the defilement of unholy 
things, from child-birth, lep- 
rosy, and infection by dead 
bodies, &c. To him that 
discerns the evangelical sig- 
nification of these various 
types, the narratives of the 
Old Testament are not a dry 
history, but appear replen- 
ished with the most useful 
instructions concerning our 
Saviour, and his body the 
church. 

TYRE, a very ancient 
city, (mentioned by Homer,) 
and for many ages possess- 
ing astonishing enterprise and 
wealth. Isa. xxiii. 8. It was 
built four furlongs from the 
shore, on an island. Eze- 
kiel xxvii. 4. Their gods 
were Hercules and JLs- 
tarte. It was the empo- 
rium of commerce and the 
arts. Their ships found the 
way even to England,whence 
among other things, they 
brought tin from the mines 
at Cornwall. Its kings sway- 



ed a powerful sceptre, and 
their colonies were scattered 
over all the Mediterranean. 
It belonged to the tribe of 
Asher, but was never whol- 
ly subdued. It was a part 
of the conquest of Alexan- 
der. About two hundred 
years after Christ it was de- 
stroyed by Niger, emperor 
of Rome. After this it flour- 
ished five hundred years, un- 
der the Seljukian Turks, was 
then taken by the crusaders, 
and finally was destroyed 
A. D. 1289, by the Sultan of 
Egypt. A. D. 1516 it was 
seized by the Ottoman Turks, 
who are to this day masters 
of all that country. The 
predictions of Isaiah and E- 
zekiel, that this city, for its 
wickedness should be utter- 
ly destroyed, have been most 
severely fulfilled. There 
are not even ruins on its 
site to attract the travel- 
ler's attention. The present 
city of the same name, hav- 
ing 10,000 inhabitants, stands 
on a different spot. See Si- 

DON\ 



U. 



UNBELIEF, infidelity of 1 universal sin in the world; 
heart, or a want of faith ;! it is the cause of disobedience 
a distrust of any narrative, to his high commands; and 
person or doctrine. Unbe- over whomsoever it shall fi- 
lief of God's holy word, is a nally prevail, that man will 






UNC 



161 



URI 



be eternally condemned. 
Matt. xiii. 58. It is a most 
horrid crime, as it makes 
God a liar, blasphemes all 
his perfections, rejects Jesus 
and his whole salvation, and 
is the root of all other sins. 
Unbelief is either negative, 
in such as have not heard 
the gospel; in which sense 
Heathens are called unbe- 
lievers or infidels, 1 Cor. vi. 
6. 2 Cor. vi. 14; or positive, 
in those unbelievers, who, 
though they hear the gospel, 
and profess to regard it, yet 
believe not with their hearts, 
Luke xii. 46. Tit. i. 15. Rev. 
xxi. 8. Unbelief is either 
with respect to a particular 
declaration of God : as when 
Zacharias discredited God's 
promise of a son to him, Luke 
i. 20 ; or universal, having 
respect to the whole de- 
claration of God. It is either 
partial, importing some de- 
grees of distrust, Mark ix. 
24 ) or total, where there is 
no trust at all, 1 Tim. i. 13. 

UNCLEAN. Persons or 
things are unclean, 1. Nat- 
urally ; as dunghills, or hate- 
ful animals, are unclean, 
Rev. xviii. 2. 2. Ceremo- 
nially ; such persons as 
touched dead corpses, &c. 
and a great number of beasts 
were thus unclean, Numb. 
xix. Lev. xi. — xvi. 3. In 
scrupulous opinion ; so some 
meats were reckoned un- 
clean by the primitive Chris- 



tians, Rom. xiv. 14. 4. Mor- 
ally, being polluted with 
sin ; so devils are unclean 
spirits, Matt. x. 1. 

UNICORN, a fierce and 
powerful animal often men- 
tioned in Scripture. It is 
generally thought to mean 
the Rhinoceros, which has 
a strong horn between its 
forehead and nose, with 
which it rips up soft trees 
into splinters, for food. Some 
have thought the Buffalo 
was the true Unicorn. The 
pictures which represent the 
unicorn in the form of a horse, 
with a horn in its forehead, 
are probably wholly ficti- 
tious, though it has been 
lately affirmed that a similar 
animal is found in South 
Africa. 

UR, an ancient city of 
Chaldea or Mesopotamia, 
where Terah and Abraham 
dwelt. 

URIM, lights. TheURiM 
and Thummim mentioned 
Exodus xxviii. 30, and Lev. 
viii. 8, literally signified, 
lights and perfections. It 
seems highly probable, that 
they were no other than the 
twelve precious stones in- 
serted into the high priest's 
breast-plate ; and on which 
were engraven the names 
of the twelve tribes of Israel, 
whom Aaron bore upon his 
heart before God. And that 
the letters by standing out, 
or by an extraordinary illu- 



VAI 



162 



VAI 



initiation, marked such words 
as contained the answer of 
God to him who consulted 
this oracle. Many learned 
men are of opinion that the 
answer was given in an au- 
dible voice, sounding from 
the Shekinah, that bright- 
ness which always rested 
between the cherubims over 
the mercy seat, Psl. lxxx. 
1. and xcix. 1. When this 
oracle of Urim and Thum- 
mim was to be consulted, it 
is said, the high-priest put 
on his golden vestment, and 
in ordinary cases went in- 
to the sanctuary, and stood 
with his face to the Holy of 
holies, and the consulter 
stood as near him as the law 
allowed. This oracle was 
never consulted in matters of 
faith ; as in these, the Jews 
had the written law for their 
rule ; nor in matters of small 
moment; nor by any but 



priests, rulers or prophets: 
Judges i. 1, and xx. 18, 
1 Sam. xxii. 10, &c. 

USURY, among the Jews, 
meant the customary and 
fair price for the use of mo- 
ney. The word now means 
extortionate and unlawful 
interest. The law of nature 
forbids not the receiving of 
moderate interest for the loan 
of money, any more than the 
taking of rent for houses. As 
the Jews had very little con- 
cern in trade, and so only 
borrowed in case of necessi- 
ty, and as their system was 
calculated to establish every 
man's inheritance to his own 
family, they were allowed to 
lend money upon usury to 
strangers, Deut. xxiii. 20; 
but were prohibited to take 
it from their brethren of Is- 
rael ; at least if they were 
poor, Exod. xxii. 25. Lev. 
xxv. 35—37. 



V. 



VAIL, or Veil, whatever 
covers or hides any thing 
from being seen. The vail, 
which divided the holy of 
holies from the holy place in 
the Jewish tabernacle, was 
a type of the human nature 
of Christ, and also of the 
separation between Jews and 
Gentiles; but was rent in 
twain at our Saviour's death, 



and the separation is now re- 
moved by the preaching of 
the Gospel to the Gentiles, 
Exod. xxvi. 31. Heb. x. 20. 
Eph. ii. 14. Matt, xxvii. 51. 
The vail of ignorance, blind- 
ness, and hardness of heart, 
which kept the Jews from 
understanding the spiritual 
sense and meaning of the 
law, caused them to crucify 



VAP 



163 



VIN 



the Saviour, resist the intro- 
duction of the new covenant, 
and reject the Gospel light, 
is still a hinderance to the 
extension of the Redeemer's 
kingdom, John ix. 39. 2 Cor. 
iii. 14, 15. Women disgrac- 
ed themselves by appearing 
in public without a vail. 
1 Cor. x. Especially, per- 
haps as it was the chief and 
almost the only difference 
between the dress of women 
and men. There were va- 
rious forms of the vail, some 
covered the whole person, 
others only the bust. 

VALLEY of HINNOM, 
see Tophet. 

VAPOUR, water combin- 
ed with so much heat as to 
cause it to rise in a gaseous 
form. It has greater expan- 
sive force than even gun- 
powder, which the moderns 
have discovered the art of 
making eminently useful in 
propelling engines for boats, 
factories, mines, &c. and is the 
noblest drudge ever contriv- 
ed by human ingenuity. By 
means of a steam engine, 
a single bushel of coal can 
do the work of ten horses for 
one hour. The vapour 
raised by the sun is held 
by the air, till it accumulates 
in clouds, and by electricity, 
or by some unexplained 
cause, descends in rain, Psl. 
cxxx. 7. Vapour is a won- 
derful evidence of the wis- 
dom and goodness of God^ 



Jer. x. 13, and li. 16. By 

evaporation we obtain rain, 
mist, dew, &c. By its con- 
stantly taking place in the hu- 
man body, man is enabled to 
sustain the heat of every cli- 
mate. By the extraction of va- 
pours from the earth, the air 
is sweetly cooled and made re- 
freshing. The occasional dry 
winds of Africa carry with 
them terror and death. With- 
out evaporation, grain and 
grass could not be cured for 
use, clothes could not be 
dried if washed. In fine, 
a gr*eat variety of common 
operations on which our com- 
fort depends, could not be 
performed. Well does Da- 
vid, therefore, represent the 
vapour, as praising God, and 
fulfilling his word. Psalm 
cxlviii. 8. Human life is com- 
pared for frailty and tran- 
science to a vapour, James 
iv. 14. 

VESTMENTS, robe? for 
priests. The vestry wa3 the 
place where they lay, and 
were put off and on. 2 Kings 
x. 22. A vesture is chiefly 
an upper robe, Deut. xxii. 12. 
Christ's having his vesture 
dipt in blood, and inscribed 
with this name, King of 
kings, and Lord of lords, 
imports, that, in conquering 
and destroying his enemies, 
he mightily shows his sov- 
ereign powsr and dominion, 
Rev. xix. 13, 16. 

VINE, one of the most 



VIN 



164 



VOI 



prominent productions of 
Canaan, and flourishing; best 
in the lot of Judah, which 
contained the mountains of 
JSngedi ; and the vallies of 
Escol and Sorek, Gen. xlix. 
11. At the present day, a 
single cluster from those 
vines will often weigh twelve 
pounds, and as the whole 
country is now comparative- 
ly neglected and barren, it 
is probable they once were 
much larger. Hence the 
spies, to avoid bruising the 
fine specimens they brought 
to Moses, hung them* to a 
pole, borne by two men. 

The vine of Sodom grows 
about Jericho, near the 
Dead Sea. Its grapes are 
bitter as gall, and considered 
poisonous. Hence Moses 
compares rebellious Israel to 
this plant, Deut. xxx. 22. 

VINEYARD, a piece of 
ground planted with vines. 
The vineyard was prepared 
with great care, the stones 
being gathered out, a secure 
fence made round it,and a scaf- 
fold or high summer-house, 
built in the centre, where, as 
the fruit ripened, a watchman 
was stationed, and where 
there was always shelter for 
the workmen at their meals, 
and a-'Suitable place to keep 
the tools, Isa. v. 1-7. Matt.xx. 
In the parable, Matt. xxi. 
the householder is God the 
Father; the Vineyard the 
Jewish church ; the hus- 



bandmen, are the Jews ; his 
servants are the Prophets 
and Apostles, commissioned 
and sent to stir them up to 
bring forth fruit in due sea- 
son, to the glory of God and 
the good of others ; his Son 
is Jesus Christ ; but owing 
to the obstinacy and impeni- 
tence of the Jews, God caus- 
ed the ruin of their Common- 
wealth, and set up a church 
among Jthe Gentiles. 

VIPERS^ serpents which 
bring forth their young alive ; 
and not as is generally the 
case, by eggs. They are 
always of a small size. Their 
body is yellow, speckled with 
brown spots, and the scales 
under their belly are of the 
colour of polished steel. 

VOICE, in general, signi- 
fies any kind of noise, wheth- 
er made by animals or not. 
God's voice is, 1. The thun- 
der, which loudly declares 
his existence and providence, 
Psal. xxix. or, 2. His laws, 
teaching, and promises ; in 
which he declares his will 
to men, Exod. xv. 26; or, S. 
His providences, wherein he 
publishes his own excellen- 
cies, awakens us from our 
stupidity, and calls us to turn 
from our sin to duty, Mic. vi. 
9. Amos i. 2. Voices, in 
the Revelations, denote, 1. 
The glorious and loud procla- 
mation of the gospel, by the 
authority of God, Rev. iv. 5. 
xi. 19 : or, 2. The astonish- 



WAT 



165 



WAT 



ing events of Providence, 
that rouse and alarm the 
world, Rev. viii, 5, 13. x. 
3 ; or, 3. The great joy of 
the saints, and their praises 
of God, for his deliverance of 
the church, and the destruc- 
tion of her enemies, Rev. xi. 
15. To mark John Baptist 
as not the true Messiah, put 
a proclaimer of his appear- 



ance, he is called a voice, 
Isa. xl. 6. 

VOW, a sacred promise, 
made to God in an act of de- 
votion, to leave off some sin 
or to perform some duty. 
A general vow is made at 
baptism. It is also used in 
an inferior sense to signify 
an oath, or solemn assurance 
to a person. 



W. 



WATER, a fluid, which 1 
occupies a large portion of 
the globe. Moisture raised 
by the heat of the sun, in 
the form of vapour, being 
carried about in the air, and 
meeting in a collective mass, 
pvoduces clouds ; these unit- 
ing and becoming^ heavier 
than the surrounding air, fall 
down in dew or rain, to make 
fruitful the earth. Much 
more rain falls on the higher 
than on the lower ground, 
and the water entering 
through crevices, on the 
hills, and finding its way 
through the earth to the sur- 
face again, produces springs. 
The streams of these unit- 
ing, form brooks, which unite 
into rivers ; and after adding 
to the beauty of the coun- 
try, and accomplishing very 
many useful purposes, emp- 
ty themselves into the sea. 

p 



Water is 816 times heavier 
than common air; a pint of 
it weighs one pound, and a 
cubic foot about one thousand 
ounces, or sixty-two and a 
half pounds. Ice is chrys* 
ized water; and by a re- 
markable exemption from the 
common laws of heat, he- 
comes lighter as it grows 
colder. In thi3 is strikingly 
exemplified the wisdom ana 
goodness of God. Dreadful 
would have been the conse- 
quences, if, like other fluids, 
water had grown heavier by 
loss of heat. In winter the 
ice on the surface of riv- 
ers would have sunk as it 
froze, in successive sheets, 
until the whole would have 
become a mass of ice, which 
no subsequent summer could 
thaw ; and the world would 
soon have become uninhab- 
litable. As it now is, no soon- 



WAT 



166 



WEA 



er is a crust of ice formed, 
but the water beneath is 

Erotected from further cold ; 
shes are safe, water abund- 
ant, and the moderate warmth 
of spring unbinds the stream. 
Such are the wonderful 
works of Him who, in infi- 
nite wisdom, and by his al- 
mighty power, created the 
heavens and the earth. Wa- 
ter, when disturbed, signi- 
fies troubles and afflictions. 
Psl. lxix. 1. But flowing in 
all the plenitude and beauty of 
usefulness, it represents the 
gifts and comforts of the Ho- 
ly Spirit. Isa. xii. 3, xxxv. 
6, 7, John vii. 37, 38. In 
Scripture, water is used for 
all sorts of drink, as bread is 
put for all kinds of food or 
solid meat. Water-courses 
are either the beds of rivers, 
wherein they run, or the 
streams themselves. Isaiah 
Kliv. 4. Water- Spouts are 
falls of water from the clouds, 
which whirled round by 
tornadoes, so as to form a 
column; or which are forc- 
ed with a mighty noise from 
the sea, by an earthquake at 
the bottom. They are more 
frequent on the coasts of Ca- 
naan and Syria, than any 
where else in the Mediter- 
ranean Sea. To these, heavy, 
overwhelming, and terrify- 
ing afflictions are compared. 
Psl. xlii. 7. To water is, 1. 
To moisten. Psalm vi. 6, 
Genesis ii. 6. 2. To com- 



fort, refresh, and render fruit- 
ful. 

WAY, a path for travel- 
lers. The word is frequent- 
ly used to signify the habits 
of a person, or the method 
of doing any thing. The 
customary dealings of God 
are called his way. Psalm 
xxv. 10, Isa. lv. 8. Christ is 
the way, the truth, and the 
life; and his salvation is the 
new and living way of ac- 
cess to God. Jehovah's pre- 
cepts are the way of truth, 
2 Peter ii. 2, and those who 
obey, shall find themselves 
in ways of pleasantness. 

W E A S L E S are of two 
kinds, the house and the 
field weasle. They are sub- 
tle, and though of small size, 
are considerably strong. 
They prey on serpents, 
moles, rats, and mice, and 
sometimes on poultry. 

WILDERNESS. -This 
word seems to have had va- 
rious meanings, as indeed 
have most words in all lan- 
guages. When applied to 
places within the holy land, 
it generally means tracts of 
land less cultivated than th« 
generality of the country, 
but not wholly desert. These 
commonly derived their name 
from the chief city adjacent, 
as JDiblah, Engedi, Judea, 
&c. The forerunner of our 
Lord resided in the wilder- 
ness of Judah till he com- 
menced his public ministry. 



WIL 



167 



WIL 



Ishmael settled in the wil- 
derness of Paran : and David 
took refuge from the perse- 
cution of Saul in the same ; 
where it appears the numer- 
ous flocks of Nabal the Car- 
melite were pastured. Such 
places, therefore, were not 
absolute deserts, but thinly 
peopled, or less fertile dis- 
tricts. But this remark will 
scarcely apply to the wilder- 
ness where our Lord was 
tempted of the devil. It is 
a most miserable, dry and 
barren solitude. A more dis- 
mal and solitary place can 
scarcely be found in the 
earth. About one hour's 
journey from the foot of the 
mountains which environ 
this wilderness, rises the lof- 
ty Quarantania, which Maun- 
drell was told is the moun- 
tain into which the devil car- 
ried our blessed Saviour, that 
he might show him all the 
kingdoms and glory of the 
world. It is, as the evan- 
gelist styles it, " an exceed- 
ing high mountain," and in 
its ascent both difficult and 
dangerous. It has a small 
chapel at the top, and anoth- 
er about half way up, found- 
ed on a prominent part of the 
rock. Near the latter are 
several caves and holes in the 
sides of the mountain, occu- 
pied formerly by hermits, and 
even in present times by re- 
ligious devotees, who repair 
to these lonely cells to keep 



their lent, in imitation of our 
Lord's fasting in the wilder- 
ness forty days. The land 
of Canaan was environed 
with wildernesses. We read 
of Egypt, Etham, Shur, 
Sin, Sinai, Tadmor, &c. 
The 40 years wandering *bf 
the Hebrews was in a wilder- 
ness indeed, and by no means 
the common thoroughfare of 
travellers between Egypt and 
Canaan. The reason why Is- 
rael was turned into it we read 
in Num. xiv. The only veg- 
etable productions which oc- 
casionally meet the eye of 
the traveller in these frightful 
solitudes, are a coarse sickly 
grass, thinly sprinkled on 
the sand ; a plot of senna, or 
saline or bitter herb, or an aca- 
cia bush. Moses, who knew 
these deserts well, calls them 
<£ great and terrible," " a , 
desert land," " the waste 
howling wilderness." Je- 
remiah, with surprising force 
and brevity has exhibited 
those circumstances of terror, 
which the modern traveller 
details with so much pathos 
and minuteness : <l Neither 
say they, where is the Lord 
that brought us up out of the 
land of Egypt, that led us 
through the wilderness, 
through a land of deserts and 
of pits, through a land of 
drought, and of the shadow 
of death, through a land 
which no man passed 
through, and where no man 



WIL 



168 



WIL 



dwelt." The word is meta- 
phorically used to signify 
things barren or unattractive. 
Hence God asks the He- 
brews if, he had been a wil- 
derness to them, Jer. ii. 31. 
T|je Gentile world was call- 
ed such, Isa. xxxv. 1—6, 
and xliii. 19. The people of 
God are represented as in a 
wilderness while in this 
world, but favoured with the 
presence of Christ, Song viii. 

WILD-HONEY. Bees a- 
bounded in Palestine. Be- 
side those bred in yards, 
many gathered their stores 
in hollow trees. Some made 
hives among the rocks, Mat. 
iii. 4. Of the last method 
we have a description in 
Campbell's Travels in 
Africa, "The bees have 
the habit of plastering their 
honey on the surface of 
rocks in cliffs; which, for 
its protection they cover with 
a layer of dark coloured wax, 
not easily distinguished from 
the rock itself. By making 
an incision in this outer coat, 
and applying his mouth, a 
person would suck out plen- 
ty." Deut. xxxii. 13. 

WILL, that faculty of the 
goul, or operation of the mind, 
whereby a man freely chooses 
or refuses things. Scriptur- 
ally, to will any thing is of 
nature ; but to will what is 
good, is of grace, Psalm ex. 
3. John viii. 36,— xv. 5. 



Phil. ii. 13. The will of God 
may be known by reading 
his word, by observing his 
providences, and by praying 
for his Spirit, to enlighten, 
instruct and guide the soul. 
WIND, a flow of air from 
one place to another. There 
are trade winds, which blow 
constantly from east to west, 
and monsoons, which blow 
three or six months at once, 
from one point, and as long 
from the opposite. The trade 
winds are met with, chiefly 
on the Pacific. In Pales- 
tine the east wind was per- 
nicious to health, and often 
dangerous at sea. See Eu- 
roclydon. The Samoon 
is the most terrible wind of 
eastern countries. Coming 
over the vast deserts, it 
brings intense and suffoca- 
ting heat and dryness, with 
billows of sand and dust. If 
travellers see its approach, 
and lay their faces to the 
earth till it pass, they com- 
monly escape. Camels and 
other animals do this by in- 
stinct. It is, of course, most 
dangerous when it comes 
unperceived in the night. 
Whole caravans have perish- 
ed in it. The prophet al- 
ludes to this wind, Jer. iv. 
11. A whirlwind, is a strong 
blast, which winds about in 
a somewhat circular manner. 
Multitudes of such blasts 
come from the deserts of 
Arabia * ? and out of one of 



WIN 



169 



WIN 



them the Lord spake to Job, 
Isa. xxi. 1. Job xxxvii. 9. 
xxxviii. 1. Whirlwinds 
sometimes sweep down trees, 
houses, and every thing in 
their way. Voilent winds 
are computed to fly at the 
the rate of 4000 feet in a 
minute. They are of great 
importance in preserving the 
purity of the atmosphere. 
The operations of the Spirit 
of God on the heart, where- 
by a spiritual change is 
wrought in the soul, are 
compared to the blowing 
of the wind, the effect being 
plainly evident, but the man- 
ner incomprehensible, or 
above the understanding of 
man, John iii. 

WINE-PRESS, a vat usu- 
ally sunk into the earth. It 
was divided into two parts, 
one being deeper than the 
other. Into the shallow com- 
partment, the grapes were 
thrown, where several men 
trod them with their feet, 
while the juice ran into the 
lower part, Rev. xiv. 18. 
Jer. xxv. 30. 

WINTER, the cold sea- 
son, when fields and trees 
are barren, and storms fre- 
quent. In the torrid zone, 
which is about 3270 miles 
broad, they have two winters, 
or rainy seasons a year, but 
both are very mild. At the 
poles, nearly the whole year 
is winter, and awfully se- 
vere, Gen. viii. 22. Spring 



and autumn are scarcely 
known. Vegetation starts 
suddenly at the return of the 
sun, and soon comes to per- 
fection. In Sweden, nine 
months are a severe winter. 
In Canaan, great men had 
their warm houses for the 
winter season, as well as 
cooler ones for the summer, 
Jer. xxxvi. 22. Amo3 iii. 
15. The winter there, is 
very wet and cold ; especially 
between the 12th of Dec. and 
20th of Jan. Matt. xxiv. 20. 
Seasons of temptation, perse- 
cution, and distress, are liken- 
ed to a winter; summer 
and winter, may signify all 
the year long ; perpetually, 
Zech. xiv. S. To winter, is 
to live or stay during the 
winter, Isaiah xviii. 6. Acts 
xxvii. 12. 

WISDOM, the power of 
judging rightly what is to be 
done, according to circum- 
stances. This is worldly 
wisdom. But spiritual wis- 
dom which is from above, 
Jas. iii. 7, begins in the fear 
of God, and produces true pie- 
ty in all our deportment. It 
is known by several prop- 



erties. 



It is pure 



it 



makes men careful to avoid 
any defilement by sin. It is 
peaceable; under all the 
trying circumstances of life. 
It is gentle, toward the in- 
firmities of others, interpre- 
ting all things for the best, 
and receding from right for 



WIS 



170 



WIT 



peace's sake. It is easy to 
be entreated; it makes men 
yield to good counsel, and 
sound reason. It is full of 
mercy ; it makes us pity the 
afflicted, and ready to forgive 
those that have offended us. 
It is full of good fruits, of 
beneficence, liberality, and 
all other offices of humanity 
which proceed from mercy. 
It is without partiality ; not 
courting and favouring the 
rich and influential merely 
because they are so, but re- 
garding and loving men ac- 
cording to their piety. It is 
also without hypocrisy, not 
counterfeiting goodness, nor 
condemning others, and yet 
being guilty of the same 
things themselves. It is put 
for the Scriptures generally, 
Luke xi. 49 ; and also for the 
doctrine of the Gospel, 1 
Cor. ii. 6. 7; for Jesus Christ, 
the eternal and essential wis- 
dom of God, Prov. iii. 19. 

WITCH is a woman, and 
wizard is a man, that is sup- 
posed to have dealings with 
Satan, if not actually enter- 
ed into formal compact with 
him. Witchcraft was uni- 
versally believed in Europe 
till the sixteenth century, 
and is now, in most parts of 
the earth. Of late, in Eu- 
rope and America, some have 
denied its existence altogeth- 
er. That such persons are 
among men, is abundantly 
plain from Scripture ; and 



that they ought to be put to 
death. Dent, xviii. 10, Exod. 
xxii. 18. It is plain, how- 
ever, that great caution is 
necessary in the detection of 
the guilty, and in punishing 
them, lest the innocent suf- 
fer, as has been the case, in 
New England, and other 
places. Witchcraft compre- 
hends all kinds of influence 
produced by collusion with 
Satan, and excludes from 
the kingdom of God. Gal. 
v. 20. It is a great sin to 
place any confidence in these 
persons, or to honor, or aid 
them by seeking them to in- 
terpret dreams, tell fortunes, 
discover stolen goods, &,c. 
Those who thus consult them 
are abhorred of God. Le- 
viticus, xx. 6. Exodus, xx. 
18. 

WITHES, twisted boughs, 
bark, willow, &c. such as 
those wherewith faggots are 
often bound together, Judg. 
xvi. 7, 8. 

WITNESS, one who gives 
evidence. The Holy Spirit 
beareth witness to our adop- 
tion, by producing in us the 
graces of Christianity, Rom. 
viii. Christ is called the 
faithful witness, Rev. i. 5. 
because he faithfully declar- 
ed the things of God, and 
sealed his testimony with his 
blood. The prophets and 
pious persons of the old tes- 
tament, are a cloud of wit- 
nesses to the faithfulness and 



WOE 



171 



WOM 



mercy of God, and the possi- 
bility of salvation. The 
Apostles are competent wit- 
nesses of the things they af- 
firm in the New Testament, 
because they saw and heard 
the things of which they 
speak. They are credible 
witnesses, because they had 
no interest to deceive, and 
actually suffered great hard- 
ships, and even death for the 
sake of their testimony. 

WOE is a word of mourn- 
ing. Ezek. xxx. 2, Psl. cxx. 
5. A woe is a heavy calami- 
ty. Rev. viii. 13, ix. 12, xi. 
14. Matt xxiii. 13—29. 
Woeful, full of distress and 
sorrow. Jer. xvii. 26. 

WOLF. Wolves are ani- 
mals of the dog kind, crafty, 
greedy, ravenous, fierce, and 
of a quick smell. They 
abide in forests, and live on 
smaller animals. They can 
bear hunger long, but are 
then exceedingly fierce, and 
will attack either man or 
beast. Hence in the even- 
ing, when they come hun- 
gry out of their holes, they 
are most fierce and danger- 
ous. Jer. v. 6, Hab. i. 8. 

WOMAN. g Before the 
fall the woman seems to 
have been more on a level 
with the man, than now, 
since the curse, in which 
she seems to have been the 
greatest sharer. In . most 
parts of the world women 
are treated harshly. So 



much is this the case in 
some countries, that mothers 
often murder their female 
infants, that they may not 
experience such hardships as 
themselves endure. In the 
Christian church women are 
raised to an equality with 
men in most of their reli- 
gious privileges, but are not 
permitted to govern or teach. 
Col. iii. 11, Gal. hi. 28, 1 
Cor. xiv. 34. The rules for 
female behaviour and dress 
are laid down, Tit. ii. 1 Pet. 
iii. &c. and their duties to- 
wards their husbands, in 1 
Cor. vii. Eph. v. &c. 

WORD, an intelligible 
sound. Any discourse is so 
called. Gen. xxxvii. 14. 
Deut. iv. 2. The term is ap- 
plied to the sacred Scriptures. 
Luke xi. 28, James i. 22, Ps. 
xi. 9, It is also a name of 
Christ. John i. Why he is 
so called we are not express- 
ly told. Perhaps because he 
is the intelligible indication 
of the Father's will and char- 
acter, as words are of our 
thoughts, Heb. i. 3, and be- 
cause he spake creation into 
beingjCommunicated with the 
patriarchs and prophets, de- 
clared the gospel when on 
earth, now intercedes in hea- 
ven, and will give sentence 
at the last day. 

WORK, any thing done. 
Creation is the work of God, 
Gen.ii. 2. The works of God's 
providence are his preserva- 



WOR 



172 



WOR 



Hon and government of the 
world, John v. 17. The 
work of redemption is attri- 
buted to the three persons of 
the Trinity ; the beginning is 
from the Father; the dispensa- 
tion is through the Son ; and 
the application by the Spirit. 
John ix. 9.— vi. 29. 1 Pet. 
i. 2. By good works, are 
understood all manner of 
duties, as well thoughts, as 
words and actions, towards 
God or man, which are com- 
manded in the law of God, 
and proceed from a pure 
heart and faith unfeigned, 
and are referred unto God's 
glory, Eph. ii. 10. Good 
works are the way to the 
kingdom, not the cause of 
entering there. They are 
the only evidence of our ti- 
tle to heaven, but no part of 
the purchase. 

WORLD. 1. The earth 
and all the animals, and vege- 
tables on its surface ; man- 
kind generally. 2. The uni- 
verse and all created beings, 
John i. 10. 3. The wicked 
are called the world, because 
they relish and love nothing 
but worldly things, and pur- 
sue only worldly designs, 
John xv. 18. 4. It is put 
for God's chosen people, 
whether Jews or Gentiles, 
2 Cor. v. 19. John iii. 16. 
5. For the Gentiles only, 
Rom. xi. 12. 6. For the 
pleasures, riches and hon- 
ours of the world. Man's 



tongue is a world of iniquity ; 
its words contain inconceiva- 
ble wickedness. James iii. 
6. Worldly is what is of a 
carnal and earthly nature. 
Tit. ii. 12, Heb. ix. 1. 

WORMWOOD, an herb, 
of a very bitter taste. Idola- 
try, profaneness, apostasy , and 
other wickedness, are liken- 
ed to wormwood ; how dis- 
agreeable to God and his peo- 
ple ! and in the end, how 
bitter to sinners themselves! 
Deut. xxix. 18. Heb. xii. 15. 

WORSHIP, to bow down 
with reverence ; and so wor- 
ship is, 1. Civil reverence, 
given to one of authority or 
worth, Matt. ix. 18. xviii. 
26. Luke xiv. 10. 2. Out- 
ward homage, given as an ac- 
knowledgment of Deity. Mat. 
iv. 10. Dan. iii. 5, 12, 14. 3. 
Inward trust, love, and fear 
of God, because of his infi- 
nite excellency. 

WRITING, was doubtless 
taught men by the inspiration 
of God, Ex. xvii. 14. xxiv. 4. 
The alphabets of all lan- 
guages have a remarkable 
similarity to the Hebrew. 
At first,writing seems to have 
been very rudely done, the 
letters being cut or scratched 
on stone or clay, which was 
then baked like brick, or on 
plates of lead. Afterward 
tablets of wood were used, 
on which the letters were 
traced. Then those were 
improved by covering them 



YEA 



173 



YEA 



with thin wax, and writing .merit for writing, was called 
with a sharp stick. To oblit- a style, hence we call a 
erate these they were held man's manner of writing, his 
to the fire; hence God is style. Afterward, bark, &c. 
said to blot out sins as a became used. See Paper. 
cloud. The sharp instru- 



Y. 



YEAR, a space of twelve 
months. The Jews had both 
a civil and a sacred year ; in 
the first they regulated their 
national concerns ; and in the 
other, their religious affairs 
and festivals. The. civil year 
commenced in the month 
Tizri; that is, at the 



au- 



tumnal equinox ; and their 
sacred year in the month JYi- 
san, or ancient Jlbib, Ex. xii. 
2, which corresponded to our 
March or April, according 
to the passover moon. The 
sacred year was instituted as 
a new era to commemorate 
the deliverance of Israel from 
the yoke of the Egyptians. 
Ex. xii. 2. And it might be 
considered as a presage of the 
gospel day, because it began 
in the very month in which 
Christ was crucified, and thus 
put an end to the ancient dis 
pensation. John xix. 30. The 
names and order of their 
months were, 1. Nisan ; 2. 
Zif; 3. Sivax; 4. Tham- 
muz ; 5. Ab ; 6. Elul : 7. 
Ethanim or Tizri ; 8. i 
Q 



Bite or Marchesvan ; 9. 
Chisleu; 10. Tebet ; 11. 
Shebat ; 12. Adar. Every 
third year they added a month 
to make up for the days lost in 
consequence of measuring 
the months by revolutions of 
the moon, which made the 
year consist of 354 days. This 
intercallary month they call- 
ed Veadar, or second Adar. 
Ignorance of chronology, and 
pride of antiquity, made the 
Egyptians, Chaldeans, Chi- 
nese, Indians, and others, date 
back the rise of their own na- 
tion to the distance of a ridicu- 
lous number of years. It is 
now conceded by most learn- 
ed men, that the creation oc- 
curred at or about 4004 years 
before the birth of our Sa- 
viour. There is much con- 
fusion in all chronology, 
from the incorrect modes of 
computing the year, practis- 
ed by early nations. The 
use of lunar months, of twen- 
ty-nine and a half days each, 
made the year too short. 
JVJany plans were adopted to 



YEA 



174 



YOK 



regulate the year, but none 
came near making the lunar 
and solar year correspond, 
till Julius Cesar, by the help 
of his astronomers, brought 
it to a considerable degree of 
accuracy. He abolished the 
lunar month, and established 
a solar year, of 365 days 6 
hours, divided into 12 artifi- 
cial months, consisting alter- 
nately of 30 and 31 days. 
The odd six hours in four 
years made a whole day, 
which was added by count- 
ing the 24th day of February 
twice. The year on which 
this was done was called leap 
year. The new reckoning, 
however, was not perfectly 
exact, for the true year con- 
sists of only 365 days 5 hours 
and 49 minutes, so that the 
Julian year was eleven min- 
utes too long. This surplus 
in 130 years amounted to a 
whole day, and in 1600 years 
had created an error of ten 
days. In the year 1582 Pope 
Gregory XIII. at the instance 
of Lilio, the Roman astrono- 
mer, proposed to strike out 
this excess of ten days, and 
to omit three leap years in 
every four centuries. This 
plan was soon adopted by all 
enlightened nations, and is 
called the New Style. This 
makes our present calender 
very nearly, though not quite 
correct. The surplus, as now 
left, would not amount to 7 
hours in 1000 years. In pro- 



phetic style, a year signifies 
three hundred and sixty 
years, and a month, thirty 
years, a day being put for a 
year ; and so three years and 
a half, and times, time, and 
half a time, or 42 months ; or 
1260 days denote the 1260 
years duration of Antichrist. 
Rev. xi. 2, 3, xii. 6, 14. 

YOKE, a contrivance for 
the neck of oxen, with which 
they draw ; a mark of servi- 
tude, bondage, or slavery. 
The service of God is to flesh 
and blood, a yoke, because it 
restrains our natural motions 
and inclinations: Yet it is 
easy in comparison of the 
service of sin, the covenant 
of works, and the ceremonial 
law. Matt. xi. 29, 30, Gal. 
v. 1. It is easy to them that 
love God, and are regener- 
ated, or born of the Spirit, 
because the law is written in 
their hearts, they are en- 
dued with faith, and they are 
strengthened by Christ. Psl. 
xxxvii. In the ordinance of 
the red heifer that was to be 
slain for the water of separa- 
tion, Numb. xix. 2, 9, it 
was expressly required that 
she should be without spot 
or blemish, and never have 
worn a yoke. As all the an- 
cient institutions were de- 
signed to convey religious 
instruction, we learn from 
this victim, that our first ser- 
vices are due to God; and 
typically, the perfection of 



ZAD 



175 



ZEA 



our Lord and Saviour, Jesus 
Christ, whose blood cleans- 
eth from all sin. Heb. ix. 
33, 14. 1 John i. 7. With 
respect to the creature never 
having worn a yoke, the hea- 



thens were particularly scru- 
pulous on this point. Hence, 
in Homer, the Greek poet, 
Diomedes promises to Pallas, 

A yearly heifer, 



Unconscious of the galliug yoke. 



z. 



ZACCHEUS, a rich pub- 
lican. Whether he was a 
Jew or not is uncertain. Pub- 
licans paid government a cer- 
tain sum for the taxes of a 
specified district, and then 
collected them on their own 
account and risk. This is 
called farming a revenue. 

ZECHARIAH. There 
were several persons of this 
name. 1. A king of Israel, 
who reigned but six months. | 
2 Kings xv. 2. A chief j stood in 
priest, martyred by king Jo- j passed a 
ash. 2 Chron. xxiv. He is 
probably the person mention- 
ed by our Saviour, Mat. xxiii. 
35. 3. One of the minor 
prophets, who returned from 
Babylon with Zerubbabel, 
A. M. 3484. 4. One of the 
common priests, father of 
John Baptist. Luke i. 

ZADOK, the son of Ahi- 
tub, appointed high priest by 
Saul. By this event that 
high office was returned to 
the family of Eleazar, after 
it had continued near 120 
years in the house of Eli, and 
the family of Ithamar. 



ZAREPTHAH, or Sa- 
repta, a sea port of Pheni- 
cia, midway between Tyre 
and Sidon, where glass was 
made. Here Elijah lodged 
some time with a widow. 1 
Kings xvii. 9, 10. Luke iv. 
26. About A. D. 400 it was 
still of some note. 

ZARETHAN, Zarta- 
nah, or Zeredathah, a 
place on the west of Jordan, 
near to which the waters 
heaps, as Joshua 
good way below. 
The large molten vessels of 
the temple were cast in the 
adjacent plain. Josh. iii. 16, 
1 Kings iv. 12. 2 Chron. iv. 17. 
ZEAL, a fervent passion 
or earnest desire for any 
thing, but especially in the 
the cause of religion. 2 
Kings x. 14. Titus ii. 14. 
St. Paul speaks of some Jews 
having a zeal of God, but 
not according to knowledge, 
Rom.x. 2; that is, they had an 
earnest desire to maintain the 
honour of the ritual to which 
they were accustomed ; but 
this, though a warm, was a 



ZED 



176 



ZIO 



blind zeal. They know not 
that righteousness whereby 
a person is justified before 
God. God's zeal is his wise, 
high, and holy regard to his 
own honour, and to the wel- 
fare of his people. 2 Kings 
xix. 21. 

ZEBULUN,or Zabtjlon, 
the sixth son of Jacob by Le- 
ah, born about A. M. 2256, 
from whom sprung one of 
the tribes of Israel. When 
this tribe came out of Egypt, 
their fighting men amounted 
to 57,400 men, commanded 
by Eliab the son of Elon: 
they increased 3100 in the 
wilderness. They had their 
inheritance between the Sea 
of Galilee and the Mediter- 
ranean, and enriched them- 
selves by fisheries, com- 
merce, and the manufacture 
of glass. They were very 
honest in their dealings, and, 
notwithstanding of distance, 
were punctual attenders ot 
the worship of God at Jeru- 
salem, Gen. xlix. 13. Their 
country was signally blessed 
with the early instructions 
and miracles of our Saviour. 
Isa. ix. 1, 2. Matt. iv. 13,15. 
ZEDEKIAH, the son of 
Josiah. When Nebuchad- 
nezzar carried Jehoiachin 
prisoner to Babylon, he made 
Mattaniah king in his stead, 
after he had caused him to 
swear to be his tributary, and 
changed his fyjue to Ze 
ah. He beg 



Pe to Zecteki- ^sl^ii^-13, 
piign w)%nj|xii.^f , Qev 



he was 21 years of age, and 
reigned 11. He revolted, but 
w r as subdued and carried 
prisoner to Nebuchadnezzar, 
who caused his children to 
be murdered before his face, 
and then his eyes to be 
plucked out ; after which he 
loaded him with chains, and 
sent him to Babylon, where 
he died. Jer. xxi. xxvii. 

ZERUBBABEL was the 
Jewish name ofSHESHBAz- 
zar, who built the second 
temple, by authority of Cy- 
rus, Ez. v. 6. Zech. iv. 5. 
He took with him to Judea 
a colony of 50,000 persons, 
and restored the temple wor- 
ship. In his day lived Hag- 
gai and Zechariah the proph- 
ets. Hag. i. and ii. Zech. iv. 
ZION. Which of the 
several hills on which Jeru- 
salem stood was properly 
called Zion, is now not cer- 
tain, the whole city having 
early taken that name, and 
the temple itself especially. 
Psl. Ixv. 1, lxxxiv. 7. It is 
thought the temple stood on 
Mount Moriah, where Abra- 
ham offered his son. 2 Sam. 
v. 1. 1 Kings viii. 1. Psl. 
xlviii. 2. The worshippers at 
the temple, if not the whole 
inhabitants of Jerusalem, are 
called Zion. Psl. xcvii. 8. In 
allusion to this, the church, 
whether Jewish or Christian, 
or heaven, is called Zion. 
Isa. ii. 3, Heb. 
;v. xiv. 1, Isa. Ii. 11. 



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